durable

durable — adjective

1. Something that is durable stays in good condition even after being used many tim

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Something that is durable stays in good condition even after being used many times or over a long period — it does not break, tear, or wear out easily.

Example

Saira bought a durable backpack that has lasted through four years of hiking trips, and it still looks almost new.

collocation: durable backpack / durable material / durable goods

The kitchen uses durable ceramic tiles that resist scratches and stains from daily cooking.

Common collocations
  • durable goods
  • durable material
  • durable fabric
  • durable construction
Synonyms
  • long-lasting

    more conversational; emphasises time rather than strength

  • sturdy

    focuses on physical strength and solid build

  • tough

    more informal; suggests resistance to damage or rough use

  • heavy-duty

    used for items built for very hard or frequent use

Antonyms
  • fragile

    easily broken or damaged

  • flimsy

    weakly made; likely to break under pressure

Grammar Patterns

durable + noun

be durable

Usage Note

Used mainly for physical objects (tools, clothing, buildings, materials). For abstract concepts like relationships or agreements, see sense 2.

Common Mistakes

This phone is very durable, so you need to handle it with care.
This phone is very durable, so it can survive drops and bumps without breaking.
'durable' means something is strong and long-lasting, not fragile.

2. Something that is durable continues to exist or stays effective over many years

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Something that is durable continues to exist or stays effective over many years — for example, a peace agreement, a close relationship, a practical solution, or a strong reputation.

Example

The two countries signed a durable peace treaty that has held for over thirty years without conflict.

collocation: durable peace / durable solution

Niran and Layla have built a durable friendship based on trust and shared interests that has lasted since childhood.

Common collocations
  • durable peace
  • durable relationship
  • durable solution
  • durable reputation
Synonyms
  • lasting

    less formal; emphasises continuing over time

  • enduring

    suggests surviving difficulties or challenges

  • stable

    focuses on not changing or ending, often used for systems or situations

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

durable + noun (abstract)

Usage Note

More formal than sense 1. Frequently used in political, legal, and business contexts. Subject is typically an abstract noun (peace, friendship, reputation, democracy, agreement).

Common Mistakes

Their durable trip lasted a month.
Their durable friendship lasted a lifetime.
'durable' describes things that persist through time (relationships, peace), not individual events like a trip.

3. A durable person can keep working, exercising, or performing over extended perio

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

A durable person can keep working, exercising, or performing over extended periods without feeling worn out, sore, or hurt.

Example

Andrés is a durable runner who can complete marathons even in hot weather without slowing down.

domain: sports (durable athlete / durable runner)

The coach looks for durable players who can maintain their energy through the entire ninety-minute match.

Common collocations
  • durable athlete
  • durable worker
  • durable body
Synonyms
  • resilient

    able to recover quickly from difficulty or injury

  • hardy

    able to endure difficult conditions; often used for people and plants

  • sturdy

    strong and unlikely to get hurt; less common for describing stamina specifically

Antonyms
  • weak

    lacking physical strength or energy

  • frail

    physically weak and likely to become ill or injured

Grammar Patterns

be durable (of a person)

Usage Note

This sense applies to people, not objects. Common in sports and physically demanding occupations. Do not confuse with sense 1 (physical objects) or sense 2 (abstract concepts).

Common Mistakes

This chair is durable because I can sit in it for hours.
He is a durable athlete who can play at top level for the whole season.
'durable' for a person refers to stamina, not physical object strength.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These words all describe things that resist damage, but they differ in emphasis. Durable is the most general term: it simply means something stays in good condition through repeated use, whether it is a phone case or a peace treaty. Sturdy highlights physical solidness — a sturdy chair can hold a heavy person, but a sturdy argument would sound odd. Tough is more informal and suggests resistance to rough or careless treatment: a tough suitcase can survive being thrown around at an airport. Long-lasting focuses purely on time rather than strength: a long-lasting battery runs for many hours, even if the casing is plastic and easy to crack. Choose durable for neutral, general contexts; sturdy for furniture and structures; tough for everyday situations where something takes a beating; and long-lasting when you want to highlight how many years something works rather than how strong it is.

durable ↗sturdytough ↗long-lasting ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • goods
  • materials
  • products
  • items

Adverbs

  • highly durable
  • extremely durable
  • remarkably durable

Phrases

  • made of durable materials
  • designed to be durable
  • known for being durable

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Durable comes from Latin durabilis, meaning 'able to last,' which comes from durare meaning 'to harden, endure, or last.' The Latin root dur- means 'hard' — you can see it in words like endure (to harden against something) and duration (the time something lasts). The word entered English through French in the 1300s, first used to describe physical objects that resist wear, and later extended to abstract ideas and personal stamina.