stable

1 of 3

noun

sta·​ble ˈstā-bəl How to pronounce stable (audio)
1
: a building in which domestic animals are sheltered and fed
especially : such a building having stalls or compartments
a horse stable
2
a
: the racehorses of one owner
b
: a group of people (such as athletes, writers, or performers) under one management
c
: the racing cars of one owner

stable

2 of 3

verb

stabled; stabling ˈstā-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce stable (audio)

transitive verb

: to put or keep in a stable

intransitive verb

: to dwell in or as if in a stable

stable

3 of 3

adjective

1
a
: firmly established : fixed, steadfast
stable opinions
b
: not changing or fluctuating : unvarying
in stable condition
c
: permanent, enduring
stable civilizations
2
a
: steady in purpose : firm in resolution
b
: not subject to insecurity or emotional illness : sane, rational
a stable personality
3
a(1)
: placed so as to resist forces tending to cause motion or change of motion
(2)
: designed so as to develop forces that restore the original condition when disturbed from a condition of equilibrium or steady motion
b(1)
: not readily altering in chemical makeup or physical state
stable emulsions
(2)
: not spontaneously radioactive
stableness noun
stably adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for stable

lasting, permanent, durable, stable mean enduring for so long as to seem fixed or established.

lasting implies a capacity to continue indefinitely.

a book that left a lasting impression on me

permanent adds usually the implication of being designed or planned to stand or continue indefinitely.

permanent living arrangements

durable implies power to resist destructive agencies.

durable fabrics

stable implies lastingness because of resistance to being overturned or displaced.

a stable government

Examples of stable in a Sentence

Noun She rode the horse back to the stable. There have been three winners from his stable this season. A new model will be added to the car company's stable of sedans. Verb Where do you stable your horses? Adjective They have a stable relationship. Children need to be raised in a stable environment. Make sure the platform is stable. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
His follower count has risen from twenty thousand to thirty thousand, and he’s gained a loyal stable of commentators. Jacob Sweet, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2023 And Heaven Hill is no stranger to great whiskeys, which Elijah Craig, Larceny, and Old Fitzgerald in its stable of brands. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 20 Nov. 2023 Like several other recently concluded FX shows that are its top-tier companions — Better Things and Atlanta come instantly to mind — Reservation Dogs became a show that, week to week, could be absolutely anything and could make any character in its stable into its complicated protagonist. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Sep. 2023 This was on full display at Hermès’s Friday night summer cocktail party, which was hosted during the Hampton Classic at the stables of Deslauriers Farm in Watermill, New York—the estate owned by husband-and-wife Grand Prix riders Mario and Lisa Deslauriers. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2023 Many OnlyFans creators don’t offer anything explicit, and the site has pushed to spotlight its stable of chefs, comedians and mountain bikers on a streaming channel, OFTV. Drew Harwell, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023 Originally constructed as commercial stables in 1880, it was turned into a garage and scrap metal business after World War II. Bill Wyman Anu Kumar, New York Times, 18 Oct. 2023 The former stable could give visitors a visual lesson on what 18th-century stables looked like, display some of the findings from the archaeological dig, and offer a perspective on enslaved labor that varies from the brute field work often associated with slavery in the South. Tiana Woodard, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2023 Since its inception in 2006, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has provided more than 700 units of affordable and supportive housing in 11 states and provided homes to 77 previously homeless veterans along with a stable of support onsite. Paul Grein, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2023
Verb
The area became popular with wealthy residents and their horse stables, a South County version of Rancho Santa Fe. San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Oct. 2023 There was a rose garden and chandeliers, horse stables for equine therapy, yoga and an on-site chef who cooked only organic food — all for $40,000 a month. Teo Armus, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023 The teams spent half the year at Jones’ farm and stables in Florida. Adam England, Peoplemag, 10 Sep. 2023 Other notable features include heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna, a mosque, and stables with enough room to accommodate up to 10 horses. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 25 July 2023 Enjoy snowy wonderland, reindeer stables, elves workshop, Mrs. Claus' old-fashioned kitchen and Santa himself. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 17 July 2023 The tree also stands outside what were once the High Street stables of Edward E. Bennett, a local hotel keeper who sheltered enslaved people seeking freedom along the Underground Railroad. Tiana Woodard, BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2023 The apartment had started life as horse stables in the 1870s, servicing a much larger bourgeois house adjacent to it. Olivia Gregory, ELLE Decor, 24 May 2023 Joseph said Parents Pride and Chasing Artie had been stabled at Keeneland before shipping to Churchill Downs. Jason Frakes, The Courier-Journal, 4 May 2023
Adjective
Moody’s changes its outlook on the company’s credit to stable from positive, while S&PGR revises its outlook to negative from stable. WSJ, 5 Dec. 2023 The Louisiana native was released from the hospital that same night in stable condition, but Philadelphia police had said the NBA star suffered a broken rib and injuries to his right side, including his hip and leg. Sean Neumann, Peoplemag, 5 Dec. 2023 Moody’s lowered its outlook to negative from stable while retaining a long-term rating of A1 on the nation’s sovereign bonds, according to a statement. Bloomberg, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2023 The exact technical implementation can vary widely, but Mozilla is a stable example of combining a humanitarian mission with for-profit ventures. Paresh Dave, WIRED, 5 Dec. 2023 Historically, it’s been difficult to imagine the rise of such a party in Ireland, with its stable, largely centrist government. Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2023 The teenage girl, whose name was not released, remained hospitalized Monday in stable condition, according to police. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 4 Dec. 2023 The second guard, who is 23, was in stable condition after being stabbed in the face and forearm. Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 4 Dec. 2023 The third victim, Tahseen Ahmad, a student at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, is said to be in stable condition, according to a statement released by the president and vice president of Trinity College. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 29 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stable.' 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

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French estable, stable, from Latin stabulum, from stare to stand — more at stand

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French estable, stable, from Latin stabilis, from stare to stand

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of stable was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near stable

Cite this Entry

“Stable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stable. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

stable

1 of 3 noun
sta·​ble ˈstā-bəl How to pronounce stable (audio)
1
: a building in which domestic animals are sheltered and fed
especially : such a building having stalls or compartments
a horse stable
2
a
: the racehorses of one owner
b
: a group of athletes (as boxers) under one management

stable

2 of 3 verb
stabled; stabling -b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce stable (audio)
: to put, keep, or live in or as if in a stable

stable

3 of 3 adjective
stabler -b(ə-)lər How to pronounce stable (audio) ; stablest -b(ə-)ləst How to pronounce stable (audio)
1
a
: firmly established : fixed, steadfast
a stable community
b
: not easily changed or affected
a stable government
c
: not likely to change suddenly or greatly
a stable income
2
a
: steady in purpose : constant
b
: not subject to insecurity or emotional illness : sane
stable personalities
3
: not readily changing in chemical composition or physical state
a stable compound
stableness noun
stably adverb
Etymology

Noun

Middle English stable "a place where animals are sheltered," from early French estable (same meaning), from Latin stabulum (same meaning), from stare "to stand"

Adjective

Middle English stable "fixed, not moving or changing," from early French estable (same meaning), from Latin stabilis (same meaning), from stare "to stand"

Medical Definition

stable

adjective
sta·​ble ˈstā-bəl How to pronounce stable (audio)
stabler -b(ə-)lər How to pronounce stable (audio) ; stablest -b(ə-)ləst How to pronounce stable (audio)
1
: not changing or fluctuating
the patient's condition was listed as stable
2
: not subject to insecurity or emotional illness
a stable personality
3
a
: not readily altering in chemical makeup or physical state
stable emulsions
b
: not spontaneously radioactive
a stable isotope

More from Merriam-Webster on stable

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