Resilient
/rɪˈzɪliənt/
Usage Pattern
Quick Memory Tip
Think of a rubber band: it's resilient because it goes back to its original shape after being stretched.
Definitions
2 meaningsResilient
(adjective)/rɪˈzɪliənt/
Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
Capable of withstanding shock without permanent deformation; recovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like.
The resilient community rebuilt after the devastating hurricane.
💡 Simply: Imagine you fall and scrape your knee. A resilient person is like that super speedy healing superhero – they brush off the pain and get right back up! They don't stay down for long, even when things are hard. It's about bouncing back after challenges.
👶 For kids: Being resilient means being able to bounce back when something bad happens, like falling down and getting back up!
More Examples
She is a resilient woman who has overcome many obstacles.
The plant is resilient to drought conditions.
How It's Used
"Resilient individuals often show grit and bounce back after setbacks."
"The resilient ecosystem managed to recover after the wildfire."
"A resilient economy can withstand economic downturns."
Resilient
(adjective)/rɪˈzɪliənt/
Of a substance or object: able to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed.
Able to return to an original shape or position after being bent, compressed, or stretched.
The resilient rubber absorbed the impact.
💡 Simply: Think of a trampoline! It's super resilient. When you jump on it, it bends down, but it quickly springs back up. Resilient materials can do the same thing - they change shape but then return to the original form.
👶 For kids: Something resilient is like a bouncy ball - it can squish and bend, but it always goes back to its regular shape!
More Examples
Resilient materials are commonly used in athletic shoes.
Resilient flooring is often used in kitchens and bathrooms.
How It's Used
"Resilient flooring is ideal for areas with heavy foot traffic."
"The resilient material absorbed the impact of the collision."
From Latin *resilire* 'to recoil, jump back,' from *re-* 'back' + *salire* 'to jump.' The word first appeared in English in the 17th century, initially in the context of physics and material science, referring to the ability of a substance to return to its original shape after being bent, stretched, or compressed. Its figurative meaning, describing the ability to recover quickly from difficulties, evolved later.
Historically, used in physics to describe the properties of materials, the word has become prominent in fields such as psychology and sociology to describe human capacity to recover.
Word Origin
"to recoil, jump back"