Meaning & use
changeable
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivenot comparable
Likely to change often or suddenly; not staying the same.
Grammar: Not usually compared: something is changeable, not more changeable.
Patterns
- changeable weather
- a changeable mood
The weather here is very changeable, so bring a jacket.
His mood is changeable; he can be happy one minute and angry the next.
The schedule is changeable, so check it again tomorrow.
adjectivenot comparable
Able to be changed or altered.
Grammar: Used for things that can be modified: a changeable setting.
Patterns
- changeable settings
- changeable plans
The font size is changeable in the settings menu.
These seats are changeable; you can move them around.
Word forms
| comparative | more changeable |
|---|---|
| superlative | most changeable |
Common combinations
- changeable weather
- The changeable weather ruined our picnic.
- highly changeable
- The market is highly changeable right now.
- changeable mood
- Her changeable mood makes her hard to predict.
- changeable conditions
- Driving in changeable conditions can be dangerous.
Synonyms and how they differ
- variable
- More formal and often used for things that vary in amount or level, like temperature.
- unpredictable
- Emphasizes that you cannot guess what will happen; changeable just means it changes often.
- flexible
- Suggests being able to adapt, not being unstable or likely to change on its own.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: changeable or flexible?
changeable vs flexible
Flexible means able to bend or adapt easily; changeable means likely to change, often unpredictably.
Practice
The weather in the mountains is very _______, so pack for both sun and rain.
Choose one answer.
Changeable describes weather that changes often. Flexible is for things that can bend, and stable or constant mean unchanging, which is the opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “changeable”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.