resilient

[ ri-zil-yuhnt, -zil-ee-uhnt ]
See synonyms for resilient on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. springing back; rebounding.

  2. returning to the original form or position after being bent, compressed, or stretched.

  1. recovering readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyant.

Origin of resilient

1
First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin resilient-, stem of resiliēns, present participle of resilīre “to spring back,” equivalent to re- re- + -sil-, combining form of salīre “to leap, jump”; see salient

Other words for resilient

Other words from resilient

  • re·sil·ient·ly, adverb
  • non·re·sil·i·ent, adjective
  • non·re·sil·i·ent·ly, adverb
  • un·re·sil·ient, adjective
  • un·re·sil·ient·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for resilient

resilient

/ (rɪˈzɪlɪənt) /


adjective
  1. (of an object or material) capable of regaining its original shape or position after bending, stretching, compression, or other deformation; elastic

  2. (of a person) recovering easily and quickly from shock, illness, hardship, etc; irrepressible

Derived forms of resilient

  • resiliently, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012