portable

1 of 2

adjective

por·​ta·​ble ˈpȯr-tə-bəl How to pronounce portable (audio)
1
a
: capable of being carried or moved about
a portable TV
b
: characterized by portability
a portable pension
c
: usable on many computers with little or no modification
portable software
2
archaic : bearable
portably adverb

portable

2 of 2

noun

: something that is portable

Examples of portable in a Sentence

Adjective Portable devices such as MP3 players are becoming increasingly popular.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Keep a portable charger on hand, especially during hurricane season. Lars Daniel, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024 Roku Streaming Stick 4K Streaming Device $50 $34 Amazon Take your favorite streaming channels with you wherever, whenever with the very portable Roku streaming stick. Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 9 Oct. 2024
Noun
These portables range from ultra-budget laptops perfect for clumsy students all the way up to high-end convertibles with bright, responsive touch screens. K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 8 Oct. 2024 James Smith The miniaturization of retro tech has always been a major obsession for modders, from the person who fit an original NES into a Game Boy-sized portable to the person who made a mini-er version of Apple's Mac mini. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 19 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for portable 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'portable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin portabilis, from Latin portare to carry — more at fare

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1708, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of portable was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near portable

Cite this Entry

“Portable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portable. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

portable

adjective
por·​ta·​ble
ˈpōrt-ə-bəl,
ˈpȯrt-
: possible to carry or move about
a portable computer
Etymology

Adjective

Middle English portable "capable of being carried or moved about," from early French portable (same meaning), from Latin portabilis (same meaning), from earlier portare "to carry" — related to portfolio, transport

More from Merriam-Webster on portable

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