metastable
adjective
meta·sta·ble
ˌme-tə-ˈstā-bəl 
: having or characterized by only a slight margin of stability
a metastable compound
Examples of metastable in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And there was no single form of equilibrium for a knitted sweater's resting shape; rather, there were multiple metastable states that were dependent on the fabric's history—the different ways it had been folded, stretched, or rumpled.
—
Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2024
Some metastable clogs persisted longer than others.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 14 Mar. 2023
Under a metastable regime, information is continuously created, preserved and annihilated by spatiotemporally changing coalitions among parts and processes.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2014
In an inflating universe, if a region is in a metastable vacuum, bubbles containing different vacua will form.
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 22 Dec. 2010
The averaging of subcontinental scale populations collapses the varied responses and generates a false metastable equilibrium in the data.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2011
Plugging those two numbers into the stability equations reveals that the universe is… metastable.
—Paul M. Sutter, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2022
In 2000, astronomers predicted that metastable helium should show up in certain planetary atmospheres, but a search for it—reported in 2003,—on the planet HD 209458b, came up empty.
—Alexandra Witze, Scientific American, 4 May 2018
Guth wondered what would have happened if such a metastable phase transition occurred in the early universe.
—Adam Davidson, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2017
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Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2024
Some metastable clogs persisted longer than others.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 14 Mar. 2023
Under a metastable regime, information is continuously created, preserved and annihilated by spatiotemporally changing coalitions among parts and processes.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2014
In an inflating universe, if a region is in a metastable vacuum, bubbles containing different vacua will form.
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 22 Dec. 2010
The averaging of subcontinental scale populations collapses the varied responses and generates a false metastable equilibrium in the data.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2011
Plugging those two numbers into the stability equations reveals that the universe is… metastable.
—Paul M. Sutter, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2022
In 2000, astronomers predicted that metastable helium should show up in certain planetary atmospheres, but a search for it—reported in 2003,—on the planet HD 209458b, came up empty.
—Alexandra Witze, Scientific American, 4 May 2018
Guth wondered what would have happened if such a metastable phase transition occurred in the early universe.
—Adam Davidson, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Metastable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metastable. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
metastable
adjective
meta·sta·ble
ˌmet-ə-ˈstā-bəl
: having or characterized by only a slight margin of stability
a metastable compound
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