stable
1 Americannoun
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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)
verb (used without object)
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 property includes a stable with 35-foot ceilings, eight stalls, and an upstairs grooms’ quarters.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
These properties can be arranged into topological structures, which are patterns that remain stable even when stretched or distorted.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 13, 2026
And a rising stock market helped keep consumer spending stable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
The victim was taken to a hospital, where he remained in stable condition Sunday, Cuellar said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!” called Somkit, dropping the staff and running for the stable door.
From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat
"I just love him so much. It's amazing seeing a horse in London; you don't see them unless you go to the stables."
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026
Authorities also issued a warning for the equestrian stables at El Rodeo Equestrian Center.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026
Ukraine is a key source of stables including wheat and sunflower seeds.
From BBC ● Apr. 22, 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
Old Timothy checked the stables, but no horses were missing.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
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
But a stabler exchange rate, lower inflation and more robust growth have not yet helped those struggling to make ends meet.
From Reuters ● Oct. 3, 2023
“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
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
It must be remembered, too, that the stablest colleges have been proceeding with these changes many more years than the period shown in the table.
From The Teacher Essays and Addresses on Education by Palmer, Alice Freeman
Reincarnate, trained by Yakteen, will be the only horse regularly stabled in Southern California to run in the Derby.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2023
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
Strict Covid-19 protocols are in place, and Irish-trained runners have been stabled at Haydock Racecourse.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2021
It’s far enough that I take a mount, a pale gray horse stabled beside a toad.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
It was a "perfect place" for them because it had a paddock and stabling for their horses, but they soon realised the bulldozers were heading their way.
From BBC ● May 27, 2025
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
‘Beds for four, and stabling for five ponies, if that can be managed. Are you Mr. Butterbur?’
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
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.
