doable
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of doable
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at do 1, -able
Explanation
Something that's doable can be achieved or is possible. You might be certain your plan to ride your bike across the country is doable, while your friends and family aren't so sure. Learning to speak a new language might feel impossible at first, but you'll soon realize it's doable, especially if you find people to practice speaking with. While keeping 200 cats in your house would be utterly unworkable, keeping two cats is completely doable. Though the adjective doable has been in use since the 15th century, today it's considered to be an informal word.
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.
"If the political will and financing align, it is doable in the short term," Larochelle told AFP.
From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026
“It is doable but with limits,” said Eric Alter, the dean of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi, another of the emirates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Arne Olson, a senior partner with Energy and Environmental Economics who consults on California’s energy planning, said replacing the plant with clean energy may have looked “eminently doable in 2016,” and is probably feasible today.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
A $5 million goal is admirable and doable, assuming you have 15 to 20 years left to work and you save a meaningful portion of your income.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
This is doable, of course—minority and underprivileged students rise to the challenge all the time—but it takes energy.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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.
