openable

[oh-puh-nuh-buhl]

adjective

1. capable of being opened.

Other Word Forms

• openability noun
• unopenable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of openable¹

First recorded in 1815–25; open + -able

Example Sentences

The internal report - seen by BBC Scotland News - said fire exits at Lenzie Academy were not easily and immediately openable and fire doors were not always closed and in good condition.

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Of course, Pogue added sadly, there will inevitably be a mass cultural loss of the type that affects any older piece of creative software: “I have hundreds upon hundreds of Finale files for all the songs I’ve written, all the arrangements I’ve done, all the shows I’ve worked on. I can still open them, and I will for years, but there is going to come a point when they are no longer openable.”

Read more on Slate

Yesterday’s pangrams were beanpole and openable.

Read more on New York Times

The interactive design features openable oven and microwave doors, a turning oven knob, two burner knobs, two stove burners, two shelves, sink with gold faucet, washing machine, laundry dial and an under-sink cabinet to enhance your little ones play time.

Read more on Salon

“Were the windows open, or openable, from the exterior of the home, perhaps penetrable? Might they be susceptible to entrance from, say, an ourang-outang? My police colleague, C. Auguste Dupin, encountered just such a praeternaturally nimble villain.”

Read more on Washington Post