Acceptable vs Decent vs Pretty good

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Acceptable

Top 2,000 (common) B2 adjective

Decent

Top 2,000 (common) B2 adjective

Pretty good

Informal Top 2,000 (common)

	Acceptable	Decent	Pretty good
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/əkˈseptəbl/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/əkˈseptəbl/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈdiːsnt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈdiːsnt/"]/	🇬🇧 //ˈprɪti ɡʊd// 🇺🇸 //ˈprɪti ɡʊd//
Meaning	Okay or good enough to be used.	Good enough; acceptable.	Something is quite good but not perfect.
Example	The noise level in the library is not acceptable for studying.	She has a decent understanding of the topic.	Her presentation was pretty good, especially the visuals.
Register	Neutral	Neutral	Informal
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B2	B2	-
Part of speech	adjective	adjective
Collocations	be, prove, seem, highly, very, completely, to, the boundaries of acceptable…, the bounds of acceptable…, the limits of acceptable…, be, prove, seem, highly, very, completely, to, the boundaries of acceptable…, the bounds of acceptable…, the limits of acceptable…	be, look, really, very, perfectly, to, be, very, really, perfectly, do the decent thing, be, look, really, very, perfectly, to	pretty good time, pretty good idea, pretty good results
Antonyms	unacceptable, unsatisfactory, poor	poor, subpar, inferior	-
Common mistakes	Confused with 'acceptable' vs 'accepted'., Using 'acceptable' as a noun incorrectly., Overusing 'acceptable' in contexts that require stronger words like 'excellent' or 'outstanding'.	Using 'decent' to mean 'excellent' instead of 'acceptable'., Confusing it with 'descent' or 'recent'.	Using 'pretty good' in formal settings., Confusing with 'really good' - 'pretty good' is less intense., 'Pretty good' can sound vague; be specific when necessary.
Usage notes	Used in both spoken and written contexts to indicate something that meets necessary standards. It can be formal in academic contexts and more casual in everyday conversations. Avoid in circumstances that require high standards or exceptional quality.	Use 'decent' when describing something that meets basic standards but isn't exceptional. It's suitable for most contexts but may sound too casual in very formal situations.	Use 'pretty good' in casual conversations to express moderate approval. Avoid it in formal writing or meetings.

See it in real clips

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

Now, Coach Lasso may not have the CV that you all find acceptable,

Breaking Bad › S1 E1

but thank you, Jesse. I'm glad it's acceptable.

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

Now, Coach Lasso may not have the CV that you all find acceptable,

Breaking Bad › S1 E1

but thank you, Jesse. I'm glad it's acceptable.

Acceptable

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

We're not in decent places.

Succession › S1 E1

Logan, himself, has made a decent way for himself these past 60 years.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

We're not in decent places.

Succession › S1 E1

Logan, himself, has made a decent way for himself these past 60 years.

Decent

- How we comin', Jimmie ? - Pretty good.

Pretty good

Frequently asked questions: Acceptable vs Decent vs Pretty good

What's the difference between Acceptable, Decent, and Pretty good?

Acceptable: Okay or good enough to be used. Decent: Good enough; acceptable. Pretty good: Something is quite good but not perfect.

Can you show an example of each?

Acceptable: The noise level in the library is not acceptable for studying. Decent: She has a decent understanding of the topic. Pretty good: Her presentation was pretty good, especially the visuals.

Can I use Acceptable, Decent, and Pretty good interchangeably?

Not always. Acceptable, Decent, and Pretty good are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.