livable

adjective

liv·​able ˈli-və-bəl How to pronounce livable (audio)
variants or less commonly liveable
1
: suitable for living in, on, or with
a livable house
livable wages
2
livableness noun

Examples of livable in a Sentence

They described the house as very livable. People need jobs that will pay them livable wages.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The researchers looked beyond climate change and greenhouse gas emissions to factors including biodiversity, land use, water quality and agricultural pollution — and concluded that food systems are the biggest culprit in pushing Earth to the brink of thresholds for a livable planet. Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025 Securing a livable future demands collective responsibility and public participation in reshaping governance before the wells run dry. Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025 Critical minerals are important if the future is to be a livable one, but their costs are very real. Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025 Goodall believed eliminating poverty through livable wages was a way to help the most vulnerable communities and – ultimately – save the planet. Martha Shade, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for livable

Word History

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of livable was in 1814

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Livable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/livable. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

livable

adjective
liv·​able
variants also liveable
: suitable for living in or with
livableness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on livable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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