readable

readable — adjective

1. written in an interesting or entertaining way that makes you want to continue re

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

written in an interesting or entertaining way that makes you want to continue reading through the whole thing.

Example

Despite its length, the novel is surprisingly readable and hard to put down.

collocation: surprisingly readable

Linh finds history textbooks much more readable when they include personal stories.

Common collocations
  • highly readable
  • surprisingly readable
  • very readable
  • easily readable
  • still readable
Synonyms
  • engaging

    focuses on holding interest rather than just being easy to follow

  • absorbing

    stronger — suggests the reader becomes fully involved

  • entertaining

    emphasises pleasure rather than ease of reading

Antonyms
  • unreadable

    used when a text is too dull or poorly written to finish

  • tedious

    suggests boringness rather than difficulty

Common Mistakes

The handwriting is very readable and I can finish it in one sitting.
The novel is very readable and I finished it in one sitting.
'readable' for handwriting refers to clarity, not enjoyment; use sense 2 for physical legibility.
This font is very readable and engaging.
This author's style is very readable and engaging.
sense 1 applies to writing content, not typeface design.

2. clear enough in form or appearance — for example handwriting, a font, or printed

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

clear enough in form or appearance — for example handwriting, a font, or printed text — to be read without straining your eyes.

Example

Please print your name in capital letters so it stays readable on the form.

imperative: print in capital letters for readability

The tiny font on the medicine bottle was barely readable without a magnifying glass.

Common collocations
  • barely readable
  • still readable
  • clearly readable
  • perfectly readable
  • neat and readable
Synonyms
  • legible

    more common synonym for physically clear handwriting or print

  • clear

    broader term; not specific to reading

  • decipherable

    suggests difficulty was overcome to read it

Antonyms
  • illegible

    direct antonym — impossible to read because it is too messy or faint

  • unreadable

    can mean either physically unclear or not worth reading; context matters

Usage Note

Commonly contrasts with 'illegible'. The subject is usually the physical writing or printing itself, not the content of the text.

Common Mistakes

The story was very readable — I could see every word clearly.
The handwriting was very readable
I could see every word clearly.' — 'story' is content (use sense 1); use 'handwriting' or 'text' for sense 2.
Her essay was readable because the arguments were well organised.
Her essay was readable because the font was large and clear.
organisation relates to sense 1; physical clarity relates to sense 2.

readable — suffix

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four describe writing that holds the reader's interest, but they differ in emphasis. 'Readable' primarily focuses on how easy and pleasant the experience of reading is — a readable text flows well and does not require effort to follow. 'Engaging' goes further: it suggests the material captures the reader's attention and makes them want to think about it. 'Absorbing' is the strongest of the group — an absorbing book makes the reader forget their surroundings entirely. 'Entertaining' emphasises enjoyment and pleasure rather than ease or intellectual stimulation. A children's picture book can be entertaining without being particularly absorbing; a dense but well-written novel can be very readable without being entertaining. For everyday use, 'readable' is the safest choice when praising the writing itself, while 'engaging' works well for content that sparks the reader's curiosity.

readable ↗engaging ↗absorbingentertaining ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • make something readable
  • remain readable
  • become readable

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinEnglish

Formed in English from the verb 'read' (from Old English 'rædan', meaning to interpret or advise) plus the suffix '-able' (from Latin '-abilis', meaning able or worthy). The earliest recorded use dates from the 15th century with the literal meaning 'capable of being read'. The sense of 'interesting to read' emerged in the 19th century. The modern technical meaning (as in 'machine-readable') appeared in the mid-20th century alongside the rise of computers.