suitable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of suitable
Explanation
As suitable means appropriate for the purpose, you can imagine that sneakers are more suitable than high heels at a track meet. While suitable always means appropriate for a certain person or situation, sometimes it is not based on fact but merely a matter of opinion. A bicycle is not a suitable mode of transportation during a winter storm because the rider is exposed to the elements. However, the clothing that you think is just fine for school might seem unsuitable to the principal. Unfortunately, he has the final say in that one!
Vocabulary lists containing suitable
The Diary of Anne Frank
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The Watsons Go to Birmingham
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Mr. Popper’s Penguins
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She loved her job with the government's employability service Fair Start Scotland, helping people to find suitable work and to develop their careers.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
On a postcard day, Talley assembled a bogey-free round suitable for framing.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026
Mr. Bolton will instead ask the court for probation, which is far more suitable for the single offense, but a judge will decide.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
Researchers must typically wait 18 to 24 months before mice reach an age suitable for aging research.
From Science Daily • May 31, 2026
“She is looking for work, and why should she not work here for you? Could she find a more suitable place?”
From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
