flexible

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

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

adj noun 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

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

# flexible

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**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

flexible

Meanings

Thesaurus

Etymology

Topics

Keyboard Shortcuts

General

Send feedback