durable
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of durable
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin dūrābilis; see dure 2, -able
Explanation
Something that is built to last is durable. Your most durable pair of hiking boots will last you through your trek to the summit of Mount Everest. Anything that's long-lasting, sturdy, or doesn't bend under pressure can be described as durable. You could have a durable relationship with your oldest friend, durable tires on your car, and a durable umbrella — they won't let you down or break. The Latin root of durable is durabilis, which means "lasting or permanent," and comes from durare, "to harden."
Vocabulary lists containing durable
100 SAT Words Beginning with "D"
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This Week in Words: December 30, 2017 - January 5, 2018
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This Week in Words: February 9 - 15, 2019
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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.
Music continues to be a huge draw for movie theaters as the industry navigates rough waters amid hopes of a durable postpandemic recovery.
From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026
“The parts of the ad business that matter most for a durable turnaround continue to show progress,” the analysts say, noting Snap’s lower-funnel ad products appear to be working.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
“We believe Compass will be able to achieve durable profitability and lower our financial leverage in a flat housing market, with significant upside in a housing market recovery,” Reffkin said.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
That, they argue, is opening space for new political experiments - and for figures like Vijay to test how far star power can translate into durable political authority.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
There he sat cracking marrowbones, neat, tough, durable, his sleek furlike hair shedding the water like a bird’s feathers: he dripped a little onto his shoulders, like house-eaves dripping, and never noticed it.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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.
