livable
Americanadjective
-
suitable for living in; habitable; comfortable.
It took a lot of work to make the old house livable.
-
worth living; endurable.
She needed something to make life more livable.
- Synonyms:
- worthwhile, bearable, tolerable, enjoyable, inhabitable
-
that can be lived with; companionable (often used in combination withwith ).
polite and charming but not altogether livable-with.
adjective
-
(of a room, house, etc) suitable for living in
-
worth living; tolerable
-
(foll by with) pleasant to live (with)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of livable
Explanation
Something livable is habitable — in other words, it's nice enough to live in. Your first apartment might not be beautiful or spacious, but it's livable. A renter might make her little house more livable by hanging curtains and painting the dark walls in lighter colors, and an animal shelter might need to make their kennels more livable for dogs, with soft beds and plenty of fresh water. Another way to use this adjective is to mean "worth living," as when you say, "Even when my job isn't going well, my family makes life livable."
Vocabulary lists containing livable
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.
It’s a great day for people who hate the idea of a livable planet.
From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026
“A true piece of livable art, this one-of-a-kind Malibu retreat offers museum-worthy design in an extraordinary coastal setting,” the listing continues.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
We can’t be sure if that’s happening rapidly enough to make a difference, but it remains true that every decision we make now to lower emissions will help to create a more livable future.
From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026
"Together we will make this a livable place," he said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026
Camus had given his hero a life that was not livable in any normal way.
From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers
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.
