stable

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈsteɪ.bəl/, SAMPA: /"stEi.b@l/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: sta‧ble

Adjective

Positive stable

Comparative stabler

Superlative stablest

Positive stable

Comparative more stable

Superlative most stable

1. If something is stable, it is unlikely to move or change.

   That number has remained relatively stable over the years.

   Ghana is often cited as one of the most stable democracies in West Africa.

   Five of the six victims remained hospitalized Tuesday in stable condition.

   Children need a stable environment at home.

   Our bodies maintain a stable body temperature.

   These young adults have relatively close and stable relationships with their parents.

   The Middle East is less stable today than at any time in the past quarter century.

   Each couple must on average have slightly more than two children if a population is to remain stable.

   Iron-57 and iron-58 are fairly stable, but iron-59 decays to cobalt-59 in a month.

2. If you are stable, you are calm and don't get upset easily.

   I'm a lot more stable than I was as a teen.

   Feeling happy, secure, and stable with the guy you're dating doesn't mean he's boring.

Synonyms

• sure
• constant
• permanent
• steady

Antonyms

• unstable
• unpredictable
• uneven

Related words

• instability
• stabilisation/stabilization
• stabilise/stabilize
• stability
• unstable
• stabiliser/stabilizer

Noun

Singular stable

Plural stables

A horse in a stable

1. (countable) A stable is a building for housing animals like horses and cows.