stable
1 Americannoun
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stables
plural
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a building for the lodging and feeding of horses, cattle, etc.
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such a building with stalls.
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a collection of animals housed in such a building.
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Horse Racing.
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an establishment where racehorses are kept and trained.
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the horses belonging to, or the persons connected with, such an establishment.
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Informal.
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a number of people, usually in the same profession, who are employed, trained, or represented by the same company, agency, manager, etc..
a comedy show with a large stable of writers.
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the establishment that trains or manages such a group of people.
two boxers from the same stable.
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a collection of items produced by or belonging to an establishment, industry, profession, or the like.
The American auto industry has some new small cars in its stable.
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verb (used with object)
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stables,
present (3rd person singular)
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stabled,
past participle, past
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stabling
present participle
verb (used without object)
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stables,
present (3rd person singular)
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stabled,
past participle, past
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stabling
present participle
adjective
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not likely to fall or give way, as a structure, support, foundation, etc.; firm; steady.
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able or likely to continue or last; firmly established; enduring or permanent.
a stable government.
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resistant to sudden change or deterioration.
A stable economy is the aim of every government.
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steadfast; not wavering or changeable, as in character or purpose; dependable.
- Synonyms:
- steady, reliable, constant, staunch, invariable
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not subject to emotional instability or illness; sane; mentally sound.
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Physics. having the ability to react to a disturbing force by maintaining or reestablishing position, form, etc.
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Chemistry. not readily decomposing, as a compound; resisting molecular or chemical change.
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(of a patient's condition) exhibiting no significant change.
noun
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a building, usually consisting of stalls, for the lodging of horses or other livestock
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the animals lodged in such a building, collectively
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the racehorses belonging to a particular establishment or owner
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the establishment itself
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( as modifier )
stable companion
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informal a source of training, such as a school, theatre, etc
the two athletes were out of the same stable
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a number of people considered as a source of a particular talent
a stable of writers
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(modifier) of, relating to, or suitable for a stable
stable manners
verb
adjective
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steady in position or balance; firm
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lasting or permanent
a stable relationship
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steadfast or firm of purpose
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(of an elementary particle, atomic nucleus, etc) not undergoing decay; not radioactive
a stable nuclide
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(of a chemical compound) not readily partaking in a chemical change
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(of electronic equipment) with no tendency to self-oscillation
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Not susceptible to a process of decay, such as radioactivity. For example, the most common isotope of carbon, carbon 12, is stable. Protons and photons are examples of stable subatomic particles.
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See more at decay
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Relating to a chemical compound that does not easily decompose or change into other compounds. Water is an example of a stable compound.
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Relating to an atom or chemical element that is unlikely to share electrons with another atom or element.
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Not likely to change significantly or to deteriorate suddenly, as an individual's medical condition.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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stablesimple
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stablessimple
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have stabledperfect
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has stabledperfect
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am stablingprogressive
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are stablingprogressive
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is stablingprogressive
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have been stablingperfect progressive
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has been stablingperfect progressive
Past
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stabledsimple
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had stabledperfect
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was stablingprogressive
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were stablingprogressive
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had been stablingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of stable1
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English stable, stabel(e), from Old French estable, from Latin stabulum “stall; shed,” equivalent to sta-, stem of stāre “to stand” + -bulum noun suffix denoting place; see origin at stand
Origin of stable2
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English stable, stabel(e), from Old French estable, stable, from Latin stabilis stabile
Explanation
When something is stable, it's fixed and steady. If you needed advice, you'd probably go to your most stable friend, the one least likely to act crazy or be easily upset. Whether you're talking about an object or a person, the adjective stable implies reliability and strength. You can describe a government as stable, or a relationship, or a desk. A completely different meaning of stable is the noun "building used for housing horses or other animals." Both senses of the word come from the Latin stabilis, "firm or steadfast."
Vocabulary lists containing stable
List 8
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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.
See Examples For:
The horse jokes will retreat into the great digital stable where memes go when their moment has passed.
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2026
The community interest company's chief executive, Rebecca Smith, said: "We pride ourselves on creating a supportive, inclusive space where people can access what they need today while building a more stable, sustainable future."
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
The conflict also weighed on tourism and tested the Gulf’s longstanding reputation as a safe and stable hub for international business and travel.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
“Initially, the renter is always ahead because they didn’t sink their savings into a down payment. Over time, however, the buyer catches up due to a stable monthly payment and home appreciation,” Pendleton said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
He became an expert with Jackson’s horses, driving carriages and wagons, and was much admired for his handling of Jackson’s prized stable.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
Included were proposals to create an enclosure for the animals, stables, three shepherd huts, parking for tractors and a pond.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
The three stables that house the carriage horses sit on prime real estate in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
If anything, they’re underworked, said Cornelius “Neil” Byrne, who has worked in the industry for 60 years and owns the stables on West 37th Street.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
As part of the deal, TSG must pay for the demolition of the stables, grandstand and adjoining structures.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2026
“Don’t know. He wanted a pile of it in there last night, and now he wants all the straw from the stables up in the west tower, every last bit.”
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
This new object is another with a very elliptical orbit, but it is stabler than 2017 OF201, which suggests that no large planet, including a hypothetical planet nine, is significantly affecting its path.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 9, 2026
“Whether it is stabler than we thought, or we just haven’t hit the air pocket yet, I don’t know,” he said.
From New York Times ● Mar. 16, 2023
Plus, the bond was thousands of times stabler than that of the next-strongest naturally occurring molecular suitor.
From Scientific American ● Dec. 28, 2021
Speaking in a video message, she called on them to create a "safer, stabler future" for the planet.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2021
But the thought flits through my mind, There have got to be stabler things than love.
From "Grendel" by John Gardner
Russell and Hawn famously have one of the stablest relationships in Hollywood, so you have to wonder how they looked at this script and thought, “Yup, that seems normal – sign us up!”
From The Guardian ● Apr. 13, 2018
It hasn't been the stablest year for MakerBot.
From The Verge ● Jul. 24, 2015
The prior studies simply targeted and featured the stablest, most educated gay couples.
From Slate ● Jun. 14, 2012
One day, he predicted, Brazil would be one of the "stablest nations of Latin America."
From Time Magazine Archive
Earth's stablest things are shadows, And, in the life to come.
From The Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell by James Russell Lowell
Afterward, EO is relocated to a farm, where he’s stabled alongside a white stallion whose privileged status doesn’t protect it from human desires and designs.
From New York Times ● Jan. 3, 2023
“People have forgotten what horses are like, what they are capable of,” said Hansen, who drives three horses stabled in Manhattan.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2022
When I first came into the business, I always looked up to him asked him questions and followed his program because I was stabled next to him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2021
The pony was usually stabled in Virginia but came frequently to the White House, where it was pictured roaming around the grounds.
From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2020
Somehow, Finn got home, stabled and watered the mare, patted the goat, stumbled into the house.
From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby
She said: "I have 12 horses to look after - four of them are elderly and require stabling most nights."
From BBC ● Nov. 22, 2023
Soon after, Churchill Downs announced it was suspending Baffert for two years through spring 2023, prohibiting the seven-time Derby winner from stabling or racing at tracks owned by Churchill Downs Inc.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 2, 2021
Danzing Candy won't have any accommodation problems, as stabling at Churchill Downs is free, although the hay, carrots and mints are extra.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2016
Millfield's resources are truly staggering: an equestrian centre, stabling for 50 horses, a 50-metre Olympic swimming pool, Tartan athletics track, playing fields, a putting green, an indoor tennis centre and a fencing salle.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 7, 2012
"Innkeep," a servant's voice called out behind her, "we have horses that want stabling, and my lord of Lannister requires a room and a hot bath."
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
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.
