Workable

/ˈwɜːrkəbəl/

adjectivemedium📊CommonFeasibility
1 meaning3 questions

Definitions

1

Capable of being done or achieved; feasible.

/ˈwɜːrkəbəl/

adjectivepositivemedium
Feasibility

Capable of being done or used successfully.

The new plan is workable and should be implemented quickly.

💡 Simply: Something is workable if you can actually do it! Like, you have a problem and find a solution that actually helps. It's a solution that's 'do-able' and makes things better.

👶 For kids: If something is workable, it means it's something that can be done or used to help solve a problem.

More Examples

2

The team developed a workable strategy to meet the deadline.

3

We were searching for a workable compromise in the negotiations.

4

The prototype was workable, but improvements were still needed.

How It's Used

Business

"The company presented a workable solution to the budget crisis."

Politics

"The proposed treaty offers a workable framework for peace."

Technology

"We need a workable design for the new software."

From Middle English *werkable*, from Old English *wyrcan* (to work) + -able.

The word 'workable' has been used in English since the mid-17th century, often in the context of practical application and feasibility.

Memory tip

Think of something *workable* as something you can actually *work* with and get results from.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"To do work, to function"

workable solutionworkable planworkable compromiseworkable designworkable framework

Common misspellings

workible

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written