navigable

play

adjective nav·i·ga·ble \ ˈna-vi-gə-bəl \

Definition of navigable

1 a :deep enough and wide enough to afford passage to ships

navigable waterways

b :capable of being navigated

navigable terrain

2 :capable of being steered

—

navigability

play \ˌna-vi-gə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

—

navigably

play \ˈna-vi-gə-blē\ adverb

See navigable defined for English-language learners

See navigable defined for kids

Examples of navigable in a Sentence

The marsh was navigable only by canoe.
this map shows which rivers are navigable and which aren't

Recent Examples of navigable from the Web

The incessant rain turned streets into rivers navigable only by boat.

— mike danahey, Elgin Courier-News, "Elgin fishmongers face uncertain return to storm-ravaged Texas," 28 Aug. 2017
The incessant rain covered much of Houston in turbid, gray-green water and turned streets into rivers navigable only by boat.

— michael graczyk, The Christian Science Monitor, "Houston inundated by mega storm: Rain continues," 28 Aug. 2017
The incessant rain covered much of Houston in turbid, gray-green water and turned streets into rivers navigable only by boat.

— michael graczyk, chicagotribune.com, "Rescuers pluck hundreds from rising floodwaters in Houston," 28 Aug. 2017
The WOTUS rules are designed to protect navigable rivers, streams and other waterways, and in recent years the government has been expanding the rules to include wetlands that feed into rivers, to the growing outrage of farmers.

— dale kasler, sacbee, "Settlement reached in federal case of Modesto farmer fined $2.8 million for plowing his field," 15 Aug. 2017
The Nittany Lions host Michigan, and their league slate is otherwise navigable, save for a pair of tricky-but-winnable road games against Northwestern and Iowa.

— chris johnson, SI.com, "Penn State Has the Horses to Back Up the Hype Entering Its Big Ten Title Defense," 14 Aug. 2017
The Gold Souk district stretches along the Deira side of Dubai Creek, a navigable waterway that is the heart of old town Dubai.

— jenny b. davis, star-telegram, "From shimmering sand dunes to glimmering skyscrapers, everything blings in Dubai," 17 July 2017
The Gold Souk district stretches along the Deira side of Dubai Creek, a navigable waterway that is the heart of old town Dubai.

— jenny b. davis, star-telegram, "From shimmering sand dunes to glimmering skyscrapers, everything blings in Dubai," 17 July 2017
The Gold Souk district stretches along the Deira side of Dubai Creek, a navigable waterway that is the heart of old town Dubai.

— jenny b. davis, star-telegram, "From shimmering sand dunes to glimmering skyscrapers, everything blings in Dubai," 17 July 2017

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

First Known Use of navigable

15th century

navigable Synonyms

Synonyms

passable, negotiable

Antonyms

impassable (also impassible), unnegotiable, unpassable

Related Words

clear, cleared, free, open, unclogged, unclosed, unobstructed, unstopped

Near Antonyms

blocked, choked, clogged, closed, congested, dammed, jammed, obstructed, plugged (up), stopped (up), stuffed; barricaded, blockaded

Other Nautical Terms

avast, aweigh, flotsam, jib, keel, lee, port, starboard, stay

NAVIGABLE Defined for English Language Learners

navigable

play

adjective

Definition of navigable for English Language Learners

: deep and wide enough for boats and ships to travel on or through : capable of being navigated

NAVIGABLE Defined for Kids

navigable

play

adjective nav·i·ga·ble \ ˈna-vi-gə-bəl \

Definition of navigable for Students

1 :deep enough and wide enough to permit passage of ships

a navigable river

2 :possible to steer

a navigable balloon

—

navigability

\ˌna-vi-gə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

Learn More about navigable

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for navigable Spanish Central: Translation of navigable Nglish: Translation of navigable for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of navigable for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up navigable? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

navigable

Definition of navigable

navigability

navigably

From the M-W Editors

Examples of navigable in a Sentence

Recent Examples of navigable from the Web

First Known Use of navigable

navigable Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Nautical Terms

NAVIGABLE Defined for English Language Learners

navigable

Definition of navigable for English Language Learners

NAVIGABLE Defined for Kids

navigable

Definition of navigable for Students

navigability

Learn More about navigable

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Diffuse' vs. 'Defuse'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066