durable

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈdʊɹəbəl/ UK /ˈdjʊəɹəbəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #27156

Meanings

1

adj
Able to last a long time without breaking or wearing out.

These boots are made from durable leather that will last for years.
2

adj
Continuing or remaining strong over a long period of time.

The two countries finally reached a durable peace agreement.
3

noun
A product, such as a car or appliance, that is meant to be used for many years.

Sales of consumer durables like washing machines fell during the recession.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · able to last a long time... long-lastinglong-wearinghard-wearing

2 adj · continuing or remaining... lastinglong-livedenduring

Opposites

nondurable

Word family

Forms durablenessdurablesdurably

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

durable goods
products intended to remain usable over a long period

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Durable entered Middle English through Old French from Latin durabilis, derived from durare, “to last” or “to harden.”

Etymology

From Middle English durable, from Old French durable, from Latin dūrābilis (“lasting, permanent”), from dūrō (“harden, make hard”).

durable Middle English dūrābilis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# durable

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈdʊɹəbəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdjʊəɹəbəl/
**Frequency rank:** 27156

## Meanings
1. Able to last a long time without breaking or wearing out.
2. Continuing or remaining strong over a long period of time.
3. A product, such as a car or appliance, that is meant to be used for many years.

## Examples
- These boots are made from durable leather that will last for years.
- The two countries finally reached a durable peace agreement.
- Sales of consumer durables like washing machines fell during the recession.

## Antonyms
- nondurable

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: durable
- Root: dūrābilis

## Etymology
From Middle English durable, from Old French durable, from Latin dūrābilis (“lasting, permanent”), from dūrō (“harden, make hard”).

## AI Etymology
Durable is from Middle English durable, from Old French durable, from Latin dūrābilis (“lasting, permanent”), from dūrō (“harden, make hard”). In present-day use, it can mean able to last a long time without breaking or wearing out, or continuing or remaining strong over a long period of time.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

markdown