usable

adjective

us·​able ˈyü-zə-bəl How to pronounce usable (audio)
variants or less commonly useable
1
: capable of being used
2
: convenient and practicable for use
usableness noun
usably adverb

Examples of usable in a Sentence

Is any of this junk usable? although the spade is usable as a snow shovel, it doesn't do a very good job
Recent Examples on the Web That said, Ford is aiming to squeeze 250 miles from the SUV's battery pack and its 91.0 kWh of usable capacity. Greg S. Fink, Car and Driver, 7 Sep. 2023 But with his cheap contract, usable skills and loads of motivation, the Lakers viewed it as a risk worth taking, capping their offseason with the top player still on the board. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2023 Over the 25-year course of West Capitol Hill Project Area, which was established in 1996 and completed in 2021, one goal was to make 300 West safer and more usable for pedestrians. Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Sep. 2023 Intrepid beat-smiths realized that if audio was recorded into the SP at a high speed, then digitally reduced in pitch, the resulting audio would be stretched into a longer, more usable form — in the process however, the sound took on a grainy, digital crunch. Jonathan Rowe, Spin, 27 Aug. 2023 But a scorching fire like in Maui makes many of those processes impossible because the remains may not be recognizable or usable for testing. Eric Levenson, CNN, 26 Aug. 2023 The goal is for Atkinson, a small side street off of Southampton Street, to be a usable thoroughfare for vehicles again, said Cox. Danny McDonald, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2023 Perhaps one of the features that makes Happier Camper's trailer stand out is the HC1's rear hatch, which can open up the trailer's interior to the outdoors, helping to extend the usable space to the outside. Kimberley Mok, Treehugger, 25 Aug. 2023 While no one was hurt, the tent was no longer usable, and his bike was broken. Helen Rummel, The Arizona Republic, 1 Sep. 2023 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of usable was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near usable

Cite this Entry

“Usable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usable. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

usable

adjective
us·​able
ˈyü-zə-bəl
: suitable or fit for use
usable waste

More from Merriam-Webster on usable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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