durable

du·ra·ble | \ ˈdu̇r-ə-bəl

How to pronounce durable (audio)

also ˈdyu̇r- \

Definition of durable

: able to exist for a long time without significant deterioration in quality or value a durable suitcase also : designed to be durable durable goods

Other Words from durable Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about durable

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Choose the Right Synonym for durable

lasting, permanent, durable, stable mean enduring for so long as to seem fixed or established. lasting implies a capacity to continue indefinitely. a book that left a lasting impression on me permanent adds usually the implication of being designed or planned to stand or continue indefinitely. permanent living arrangements durable implies power to resist destructive agencies. durable fabrics stable implies lastingness because of resistance to being overturned or displaced. a stable government

Did You Know?

Something "durable" lasts a long time, so it's no surprise that the word comes to us, via Anglo-French, from the Latin verb durare, meaning "to last." Other descendants of "durare" in English include "during," "endure," and "durance" (which now mostly turns up in the phrase "in durance vile," a fancy way of saying "in prison"). "Durable" even has a near synonym in the much rarer "perdurable," which combines "durare" with the prefix per- (meaning "throughout") to create a word that can mean "lasting a very long time or indefinitely" or "eternal."

Examples of durable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But Jeter remained durable and excellent, while Nomar Garciaparra’s assorted limbs and tendons betrayed him. — Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, "Pondering Dustin Pedroia’s Hall chances, and eight other thoughts . . .," 21 Jan. 2020 The problem: While durable and warm, UGGs are made with considerably delicate material. — Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, "How to Clean UGGs at Home, No Matter How Minor or Serious the Stain," 14 Jan. 2020 An airborne laser must not only be durable and reliable but also capable of standing up to the rigors of high performance flight. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "China's Airborne Laser Weapon Would Change Dogfighting Forever," 13 Jan. 2020 Metal raceways are more durable and paintable, but also more difficult to install because they typically must be screwed to the wall. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "How to Hide a TV's Unsightly Wires," 6 Jan. 2020 By 1912, the Mauser had proven itself the slickest, fastest, strongest, most durable and trustworthy repeater in the world, and that began changing attitudes about suitable African rifles. — Outdoor Life, "The Best Big Bore Rifles For Your First African Safari: .375 H&H vs. .416 Rem. Mag. vs. .458 Win. Mag," 3 Jan. 2020 According to Amazon, the device is twice as durable as the latest iPad and offers seven hours of reading, internet browsing (available over Wi-Fi), and movie watching time. — Dan Q. Dao, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Kindle for Travel—Plus More E-Readers and Tablets We Love," 10 Dec. 2019 In addition to being on-trend, the clothing is durable and comfortable. — Claire Goodman, Houston Chronicle, "FRAME luxury lifestyle apparel opens in River Oaks," 3 Dec. 2019 The material gets softer with wear, but remains durable and resilient, so the bags aren't limited to a year or two of gift-giving like a regular gift bag that might get passed from loved one to loved one. — Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, "Scout's Reusable Gift Bags Are the Smartest Thing You'll Buy This Holiday Season," 3 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'durable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near durable

Duque de Caxias

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Last Updated

25 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Durable.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/durable. Accessed 26 January 2020.

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