teachable

adjective teach·able \ ˈtē-chə-bəl \

Updated on: 13 May 2018

Definition of teachable

1 a : capable of being taught

b : apt and willing to learn

2 : favorable to teaching

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teachableness

noun

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teachably

play \ˈtē-chə-blē\ adverb

See teachable defined for English-language learners

See teachable defined for kids

Examples of teachable in a Sentence

students who are teachable and eager to learn
The book's style makes it very teachable.

Recent Examples of teachable from the Web

Experts also acknowledge that 13 Reasons Why did come with teachable moments and opened a dialogue surrounding suicide and other difficult experiences that young adults face that often get brushed aside.

— carolyn l. todd, SELF, "Here’s What 7 Mental Health Experts Really Think About ‘13 Reasons Why’," 9 May 2018
The teachable moment here is that Draconian immigration restrictions are, well, Draconian—a lesson that also applies to America’s debate over the Dreamers brought to the U.S. illegally as children.

— the editorial board, WSJ, "Gone With the Windrush in Britain," 30 Apr. 2018
But those districts that took a harder line didn’t pass up the opportunity to facilitate a teachable moment by allowing students to hold assemblies and voter registration drives.

— michael smolens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "No question they're serious, but will the kids vote?," 25 Apr. 2018
To the nope nope nope nope community, KBH is a teachable moment.

— michelle weber, Longreads, "“They’ve Forked Baby Hitler”," 23 Apr. 2018
State officials said there's a teachable moment here from this raw revelation of toxins in affluent Franklin, home to the late billionaire Max Fisher as well as some Detroit Pistons.

— bill laitner, Detroit Free Press, "Toxic air all but gone in Franklin after tank of cancer-causing solvent found," 31 Mar. 2018
While the gravitas of being a former professional athlete may have helped, so did Boone’s investing in the boys, periodically texting parents on how their child was developing, and using setbacks on the field as teachable moments.

— billy witz, New York Times, "Aaron Boone Has No Coaching Experience? Don’t Tell That to His Flag Football Team," 29 Mar. 2018
The discovery of a daughter was a surreal twist on what was already a teachable moment for all involved.

— lori higgins, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit man died alone, but his death has taught lessons to many," 28 Mar. 2018
Brenchley hopes his incident serves as a teachable moment.

— sean rossman, USA TODAY, "Trooper hit by car goes flying in the air, but defends driver who struck him in Utah," 28 Mar. 2018

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

First Known Use of teachable

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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TEACHABLE Defined for English Language Learners

teachable

adjective

Definition of teachable for English Language Learners

: able and willing to learn : capable of being taught
: allowing something to be taught or learned easily

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teachable

Definition of teachable

teachableness

teachably

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