stable

¹ American  

[stey-buhl] / ˈsteɪ bəl /

noun

1. a building for the lodging and feeding of horses, cattle, etc.

   Synonyms:

   mews, barn

2. such a building with stalls.

3. a collection of animals housed in such a building.

4. Horse Racing.

   1. an establishment where racehorses are kept and trained.

   2. the horses belonging to, or the persons connected with, such an establishment.

5. Informal.

   1. a number of people, usually in the same profession, who are employed, trained, or represented by the same company, agency, manager, etc..

      a comedy show with a large stable of writers.

   2. the establishment that trains or manages such a group of people.

      two boxers from the same stable.

   3. a collection of items produced by or belonging to an establishment, industry, profession, or the like.

      The American auto industry has some new small cars in its stable.

---

verb (used with object)

stables, present (3rd person singular) stabled, past participle, past stabling present participle

1. to put or lodge in or as if in a stable.

verb (used without object)

stables, present (3rd person singular) stabled, past participle, past stabling present participle

1. to live in or as if in a stable.

stable ² American  

[stey-buhl] / ˈsteɪ bəl /

adjective

stabler, stablest

1. not likely to fall or give way, as a structure, support, foundation, etc.; firm; steady.

   Synonyms:

   sturdy, secure, fixed

2. able or likely to continue or last; firmly established; enduring or permanent.

   a stable government.

3. resistant to sudden change or deterioration.

   A stable economy is the aim of every government.

4. steadfast; not wavering or changeable, as in character or purpose; dependable.

   Synonyms:

   steady, reliable, constant, staunch, invariable

5. not subject to emotional instability or illness; sane; mentally sound.

6. Physics. having the ability to react to a disturbing force by maintaining or reestablishing position, form, etc.

7. Chemistry. not readily decomposing, as a compound; resisting molecular or chemical change.

8. (of a patient's condition) exhibiting no significant change.

---

stable ¹ British  

/ ˈsteɪbəl /

noun

1. a building, usually consisting of stalls, for the lodging of horses or other livestock

2. the animals lodged in such a building, collectively

3. 1. the racehorses belonging to a particular establishment or owner

   2. the establishment itself

   3. ( as modifier )

      stable companion

4. informal a source of training, such as a school, theatre, etc

   the two athletes were out of the same stable

5. a number of people considered as a source of a particular talent

   a stable of writers

6. (modifier) of, relating to, or suitable for a stable

   stable manners

---

verb

1. to put, keep, or be kept in a stable

stable ² British  

/ ˈsteɪbəl /

adjective

1. steady in position or balance; firm

2. lasting or permanent

   a stable relationship

3. steadfast or firm of purpose

4. (of an elementary particle, atomic nucleus, etc) not undergoing decay; not radioactive

   a stable nuclide

5. (of a chemical compound) not readily partaking in a chemical change

6. (of electronic equipment) with no tendency to self-oscillation

---

stable Scientific  

/ stā′bəl /

1. Not susceptible to a process of decay, such as radioactivity. For example, the most common isotope of carbon, carbon 12, is stable. Protons and photons are examples of stable subatomic particles.

2. See more at decay

3. Relating to a chemical compound that does not easily decompose or change into other compounds. Water is an example of a stable compound.

4. Relating to an atom or chemical element that is unlikely to share electrons with another atom or element.

5. Not likely to change significantly or to deteriorate suddenly, as an individual's medical condition.

---

stable Idioms  

1. see lock the barn (stable) door after the horse has bolted.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• stableness
  noun
• unstabled
  adjective
• stablelike
  adjective
• stably
  adverb

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has stabled
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have stabled
  perfect
• are stabling
  progressive
• is stabling
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been stabling
  perfect progressive
• has been stabling
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am stabling
  progressive 1st person singular
• stabling
  participle
• stables
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had stabled
  perfect
• was stabling
  progressive singular
• had been stabling
  perfect progressive
• were stabling
  progressive plural
• stabled
  participle
• stabled
  simple

Future

• will stable
  simple
• will have stabled
  perfect
• will have been stabling
  perfect progressive
• will be stabling
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of stable¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English stable, stabel(e), from Old French estable, from Latin stabulum “stall; shed,” equivalent to sta-, stem of stāre “to stand” + -bulum noun suffix denoting place; see origin at stand

Origin of stable²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English stable, stabel(e), from Old French estable, stable, from Latin stabilis stabile

Explanation

When something is stable, it's fixed and steady. If you needed advice, you'd probably go to your most stable friend, the one least likely to act crazy or be easily upset. Whether you're talking about an object or a person, the adjective stable implies reliability and strength. You can describe a government as stable, or a relationship, or a desk. A completely different meaning of stable is the noun "building used for housing horses or other animals." Both senses of the word come from the Latin stabilis, "firm or steadfast."

Example Sentences

In other words, there is no stable relationship between geopolitical risk and gold’s price.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

"But if we can calm down, we should be able to get to a stable mentality," said Zhang.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

Despite having churned through eight presidents in the last 10 years, Peru's economy has remained relatively stable.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

But even stable banking systems cannot insulate economies from ships sinking, harvests failing or strikes closing mines.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

Every shadow inside the stable seemed to grow longer as the seconds ticked by, moonlight trickling through gaps between the roof’s wooden planks.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Related Words

• balanced
• calm
• durable
• fast
• lasting
• permanent
• reliable
• safe
• secure
• solid
• steady
• strong
• substantial