stable

1 of 3

noun

sta·​ble ˈstā-bəl 

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

d

: group, collection

stable

2 of 3

verb

stabled; stabling ˈstā-b(ə-)liŋ 

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

stabler ˈstā-b(ə-)lər  ; stablest ˈstā-b(ə-)ləst 

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

ˈstā-bəl-nəs 

noun

stably

ˈstā-b(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Adjective

• sturdy
• strong

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

They're known for a stable of high-quality tabs and frequent experimental collaborations. —Kathryn Streeter, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025

One of the main reasons the Dolphins spanked the Falcons was the use of their stable of tailbacks — De’Von Achane, Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright. —Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025

Verb

Don’s wife Blythe (Jessica Capshaw) also spends her days getting her boots dirty, albeit at the horse stables. —Andy Swift, TVLine, 9 Oct. 2025

The 51-year-old has two horses, stabled in the West Midlands. —Paul Taylor, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Plus, the rubber sole adds traction to keep you stable on wet or slippery surfaces. —Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2025

Optical atomic clocks, which are considered the timekeepers of the future, use the precise, stable microwave frequency emitted by the vibrations of cesium or other atoms to keep time with extreme accuracy. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2025

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

Phrases Containing stable

• Augean stable
• livery stable
• shelf-stable
• stable boy
• stable fly
• stable girl
• stable man

Rhymes for stable

• able
• chaebol
• fable
• label
• sable
• stabile
• table
• allocable
• educable
• integrable
• purchasable
• thermostable

Kids Definition

stable

1 of 3 noun

sta·​ble ˈstā-bəl 

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 

: to put, keep, or live in or as if in a stable

stable

3 of 3 adjective

stabler -b(ə-)lər  ; stablest -b(ə-)ləst 

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

-bəl-nəs 

noun

stably

-b(ə-)lē 

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 

stabler -b(ə-)lər  ; stablest -b(ə-)ləst 

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