operable

adjective

op·​er·​a·​ble ˈä-p(ə-)rə-bəl 

1

: fit, possible, or desirable to use : practicable

2

: likely to result in a favorable outcome upon surgical treatment

an operable cancer

operability

ˌä-p(ə-)rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

operably

ˈä-pə-rə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• available
• useful

Examples of operable in a Sentence

The radio is operable without the car running.

the historic wooden ship has been fully restored and is once again an operable seafaring vessel

Recent Examples on the Web

Approved by voters hoodwinked by false cost estimates, the project was supposed to be operable by 2020 at a cost of $33 billion. —Editorial, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025

Its first operable segment in the Central Valley— a 172-mile stretch between Merced and Bakersfield slated to open in 2033 — is far from the original vision and the $14 billion needed to close the funding gap by June 2026 remains elusive. —Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025

Health officials say all operable cooling towers in the area have been tested, and those that tested positive for Legionella were ordered to be cleaned. —Jeffrey Kopp, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025

Barshick said part of the plant is still operable and would continue producing coke, which is used in the steel-producing process. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin operābilis "active, efficacious," from operārī "to work, be efficacious" + Latin -ābilis -able — more at operate

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for operable

• inoperable
• interoperable

Kids Definition

operable

adjective

op·​er·​a·​ble ˈäp-(ə-)rə-bəl 

1

: fit, possible, or desirable to use

2

: likely to have a favorable result upon surgical treatment

an operable cancer

Medical Definition

operable

adjective

op·​er·​a·​ble ˈäp-(ə-)rə-bəl 

1

: fit, possible, or desirable to use

2

: likely to result in a favorable outcome upon surgical treatment

operability

ˌäp-(ə-)rə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural operabilities