flexible

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈflek.sɪ.bəl/ UK /ˈflɛk.sɪ.bəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #10601

Meanings

1

adj
Able to change easily to suit new or different conditions.

You need to be flexible and accept that plans can change.
2

adj
Able to bend easily without breaking.

The wire is thin and flexible.
3

adj
Willing to listen to others and change your mind.

A good manager is flexible about how the work gets done.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · able to change easily to... adaptable

2 adj · able to bend easily without... pliable

3 adj · willing to listen to others... accommodating

More bain bendable bendsome bendy ductile flexile inconstant limber limp lithe manageable obsequious

Opposites

firm inelastic inflexible rigid stiffunbendable

Word family

Derived forms flexatoneflexboneflexecutiveflexibilizationflexibilizeflexibleness flexiblyflexihoursflexisexualflexisexualityflexitankflexitarian

Related forms flexibility foldable inflexible moldable obstinate pliable pliant soft supple withy

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Etymology

From Middle French flexible, from Latin flexibilis, from flectō (“to bend, curve”). Morphologically flex + -ible.

flexible Middle French flexibilis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# flexible

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈflek.sɪ.bəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈflɛk.sɪ.bəl/
**Frequency rank:** 10601

## Meanings
1. Able to change easily to suit new or different conditions.
2. Able to bend easily without breaking.
3. Willing to listen to others and change your mind.

## Examples
- You need to be flexible and accept that plans can change.
- The wire is thin and flexible.
- A good manager is flexible about how the work gets done.

## Synonyms
- bain
- bendable
- bendsome
- bendy
- ductile
- flexile
- inconstant
- limber
- limp
- lithe
- manageable
- obsequious

## Antonyms
- firm
- inelastic
- inflexible
- rigid
- stiff
- unbendable

## Derived Forms
- flexatone
- flexbone
- flexecutive
- flexibilization
- flexibilize
- flexibleness
- flexibly
- flexihours
- flexisexual
- flexisexuality
- flexitank
- flexitarian

## Related Forms
- flexibility
- foldable
- inflexible
- moldable
- obstinate
- pliable
- pliant
- soft
- supple
- withy

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: flexible
- Root: flexibilis
- Affix: -ible - able to be

## Etymology
From Middle French flexible, from Latin flexibilis, from flectō (“to bend, curve”). Morphologically flex + -ible.

## AI Etymology
Flexible comes from Middle French flexible, from Latin flexibilis, from flectō (“to bend, curve”). Morphologically flex + -ible. In current use, the main senses are “Able to change easily to suit new or different conditions” and “Able to bend easily without breaking”.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

markdown