suitable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of suitable
Explanation
As suitable means appropriate for the purpose, you can imagine that sneakers are more suitable than high heels at a track meet. While suitable always means appropriate for a certain person or situation, sometimes it is not based on fact but merely a matter of opinion. A bicycle is not a suitable mode of transportation during a winter storm because the rider is exposed to the elements. However, the clothing that you think is just fine for school might seem unsuitable to the principal. Unfortunately, he has the final say in that one!
Vocabulary lists containing suitable
The Diary of Anne Frank
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The Watsons Go to Birmingham
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Mr. Popper’s Penguins
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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.
No other free-to-air broadcaster made a suitable offer.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
Their next objective is to turn the experimental implant into a medical device suitable for further development and eventual clinical testing.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026
NRW said these conditions mean there are only a handful of suitable sites in the UK.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
This is the region around a star where temperatures could allow liquid water to remain on a planet's surface, provided the planet has suitable atmospheric conditions.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026
The proposal included an offer to pay for the construction of a suitable house on the island out of the royal purse, plus an income.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
