quotable

American  

[kwoh-tuh-buhl] / ˈkwoʊ tə bəl /

adjective

1. able to be quoted or easily quoted, as by reason of effectiveness, succinctness, or the like.

   the most quotable book of the season.

2. suitable or appropriate for quotation.

   His comments were hilarious but unfortunately not quotable.

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quotable British  

/ ˈkwəʊtəbəl /

adjective

1. apt or suitable for quotation

   his remarks are not quotable in mixed company

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Other Word Forms

• quotability noun
• quotableness noun
• quotably adverb
• unquotable adjective

Etymology

Origin of quotable

First recorded in 1815–25; quote + -able

Explanation

Quotable things are so catchy or apt that you'll want to repeat them or write them down to remember them. A really funny movie is usually full of hilarious, quotable lines. When you quote something, you repeat it out loud or write it down, word for word. If the phrase or passage is good enough for this to be worthwhile, it's quotable. Shakespeare is famous for the number of quotable lines his plays contain, from "To be, or not to be: that is the question," to "A man can die but once." Quotable lines are good for speeches and yearbook quotes, as well as impressing your friends.

Example Sentences

We make the myth our own, in one viewing after another, one quotable line after another.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

The B-52s biggest hit, released in 1989, is one of pop's most carefree and irreverent songs, full of manic energy and endlessly quotable lyrics.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Some films linger in our minds because of their sharp plots, quotable one-liners and unforgettable characters.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2026

“Neon Grey Midnight Green” is a record heavy on quotable lines but light on hooks, though the creative arrangements offset some of this deficiency.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 30, 2025

In addition to seeming eternal, ubiquitous, protean, and endlessly quotable, Franklin had the most sophisticated sense of timing among all the prominent statesmen of the revolutionary era.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis