Meaning & use
stable
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Firm and steady, unlikely to fall, tip or move.
Grammar: Used about objects and structures: a stable ladder.
Patterns
- a stable something
- stable under something
Make sure the ladder is stable before you climb it.
The bridge is stable even in strong winds.
A wide base keeps the tripod stable.
adjectivecomparable
Not likely to change suddenly or cause problems, as with an economy, relationship or job.
Grammar: Describes conditions over time: a stable economy.
Patterns
- a stable something
- remain stable
She wants a stable job with regular hours.
Prices have stayed stable for several months.
They have a stable relationship after ten years together.
adjectivecomparablemedical
Calm in mind and not easily upset, or, in medicine, no longer getting worse.
Grammar: Used about people and medical conditions: the patient is stable.
Patterns
- emotionally stable
- in stable condition
After treatment, the patient was in stable condition.
He is a calm and emotionally stable person.
The doctor said her heart rate is now stable.
nouncountable
A building where horses are kept, or a group of horses or athletes managed together.
Grammar: Often plural for the building: the stables.
Patterns
- a stable of something
The girl cleaned the stable every morning.
The trainer's stable has several promising racehorses.
The agency has a stable of young actors.
verbtransitiverare
To put or keep a horse in a stable.
Grammar: Takes an object: stable the horse.
Patterns
- stable a horse
They stable their horses near the river.
The farmer stabled the pony for the winter.
Word forms
| comparative | more stable |
|---|---|
| superlative | most stable |
| plural | stables |
| past tense | stabled |
| -ing form | stabling |
Common combinations
- stable condition
- The hospital said the patient was in stable condition.
- stable economy
- A stable economy encourages people to invest.
- remain stable
- The temperature remained stable overnight.
- emotionally stable
- Children need an emotionally stable home.
- stable job
- A stable job gave the couple confidence to buy a house.
- stable door
- Closing the stable door after the horse has bolted is too late.
Synonyms and how they differ
- steady
- Steady means moving or staying even without wobbling, and often describes speed or progress.
- secure
- Secure stresses safety from danger or loss, whereas stable stresses not changing.
- balanced
- Balanced describes equal weight or parts, while stable describes lasting steadiness.
- constant
- Constant means staying the same over time, with no suggestion of firmness.
Opposites
Word family
- stability noun
- the quality of being steady
- stabilize verb
- to make or become steady
- stably adverb
- in a steady way
- unstable adjective
- likely to change or fall
- destabilize verb
- to make unsteady
Commonly confused: stable or staple?
stable vs staple
A staple is a basic food or a small metal fastener, not something steady.
Practice
After the operation, the doctor said the patient was ___ and could leave intensive care.
Choose one answer.
Stable here means no longer getting worse. Staple is a different word, stabled is a verb form and stably is an adverb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “stable”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.