stable

1.adjectiveB1

Definition

Firmly placed or supported so that something does not move, shake, or change unexpectedly; not likely to break, fail, or undergo sudden shifts.

Example

Make sure the ladder is stable before you climb up to fix the roof.

collocation: stable ladder / stable structure

After a week of ups and downs, the patient's condition is now stable.

Common collocations

stable ladder
stable job
stable condition
stable economy
stable relationship
stable prices
stable income

Synonyms

steady
Focuses on even, continuous movement or balance; 'steady' can describe a hand that does not shake, while 'stable' emphasizes structural fixity.
balanced
More about equal distribution of weight or forces; a 'balanced' diet is not the same as a 'stable' diet.
secure
Adds a feeling of safety or protection; a 'secure' job may imply a contract, while a 'stable' job focuses on low risk of loss.
constant
Describes something that never varies; 'constant' pain is not the same as a 'stable' condition.

Antonyms

unstable
Direct opposite; an unstable structure wobbles or may collapse.
shaky
Informal; suggests visible trembling or weakness.

Usage Note

Frequently used to describe physical objects (furniture, structures), economic indicators (prices, growth), and medical conditions (vital signs, state of health).

Common Mistakes

The ladder is stable enough to stand on it.

The ladder is stable enough to stand on.

'stable' already includes the idea of being secure; no need to add 'enough' as a filler.

She wants a stable work.

She wants a stable job.

'stable' modifies countable nouns like 'job', 'income', 'relationship', not uncountable 'work' in this sense.

2.adjectiveB2

Definition

Describes a person who has a healthy state of mind, deals with emotions in a calm way, and does not become upset or irrational easily.

Example

Christopher feels much more stable now that he attends therapy every week.

Children who grow up in a stable home environment tend to do better at school.

collocation: stable home / stable environment

Common collocations

stable person
stable home
stable environment
stable family
emotionally stable
mentally stable

Synonyms

well-adjusted
More specific to social functioning; a well-adjusted child gets along with others and follows rules.
balanced
Suggests moderation in emotions; 'balanced' is broader — a 'balanced' person eats well, sleeps well, and stays calm.
rational
Focuses on logical thinking rather than emotional steadiness.

Antonyms

unstable
Direct opposite; an unstable person may experience sudden mood swings.
volatile
Stronger than 'unstable'; suggests explosive emotional reactions.

Usage Note

Subject is always a person, a person's character, or a social environment (home, family) that influences mental health. Distinguish from sense 1 in that this sense applies only to mental or emotional stability, not to physical objects or economic systems.

Common Mistakes

The table is mentally stable.

The table is stable.

This sense only applies to people and their emotional condition, not to objects.

3.adjectiveB2

Definition

Describes a chemical substance or element that does not easily react with other substances or change its atomic or molecular structure under normal conditions.

Example

Gold is a stable metal that does not rust or react with water.

collocation: stable metal / stable compound

The chemist stored the stable compound in a glass container at room temperature.

Common collocations

stable compound
stable element
stable isotope
chemically stable
stable molecule

Synonyms

inert
Stronger than 'stable'; an inert substance does not react under almost any conditions.
non-reactive
Direct description of the same property; less technical.

Antonyms

reactive
Describes a substance that easily undergoes chemical reactions.
unstable
In chemistry, an unstable substance may break down or transform spontaneously.

Usage Note

Primarily used in science and chemistry contexts. The opposite is 'reactive' or 'unstable'. A 'stable' substance can still be dangerous; stability here refers only to chemical reactivity, not physical safety.

Common Mistakes

This chemical is very stable, so it explodes easily.

This chemical is very reactive, so it explodes easily.

'Stable' in chemistry means the substance does NOT react easily.

1.nounA2

Definition

A building or a group of buildings where horses, ponies, or other farm animals are kept and cared for.

Example

Every morning at six, Yumi cleans the stables and gives fresh hay to the horses.

The horses were led back to the stable when the thunderstorm began.

Common collocations

horse stable
riding stable
stable door
clean the stables
stable block

Synonyms

barn
A larger building for storing hay and housing animals; a barn may hold cows and equipment, while a stable is specifically for horses.
horse shelter
A more general term; a shelter may be a simple roof with no walls.

Usage Note

Often used in the plural form ('stables') even when referring to a single building or facility. The compound 'stable boy' / 'stable hand' refers to a person who works in a stable.

Common Mistakes

The horse sleeps in a garage.

The horse sleeps in a stable.

Horses are kept in stables, not garages.

I put the car in the stable.

I put the car in the garage.

'Stable' is for animals, not vehicles.

2.nounB2

Definition

All of the racehorses, racing cars, or other sports assets that one owner or trainer looks after and manages.

Example

The Vega stable won three races at the weekend event in Dublin.

stable + won (collocation: winning stable)

Kwame manages a stable of racing cars that compete across five European countries.

Common collocations

racing stable
stable of horses
stable owner
stable trainer
leading stable

Synonyms

team
More general; a team implies cooperation, while a stable implies common ownership or training.
string
Used specifically for a group of racehorses under one trainer.

Usage Note

Often modified by the owner's name ('the Aga Khan's stable') or a location ('the Newmarket stable'). Extends by analogy to racing cars or yachts owned by one person.

Common Mistakes

The stable of horses were racing.

The stable of horses was racing.

'Stable' is a collective noun and takes a singular verb in British English.

3.nounC1

Definition

The collection of writers, athletes, performers, or other professionals all under the management or employment of a single person, agency, or company.

Example

The newspaper employs a stable of freelance journalists based in different countries.

stable of journalists / stable of writers

Lakan represents a stable of young athletes training for the Olympic qualifying events.

Common collocations

stable of writers
stable of artists
stable of lawyers
stable of influencers
stable of talent

Synonyms

roster
Focuses on a list of available people; a roster is more formal and administrative.
pool
Suggests a shared resource; a 'pool of talent' is available to be drawn from, while a 'stable' implies long-term management.

Usage Note

Typically followed by 'of + plural noun' describing the profession (stable of writers, stable of artists, stable of lawyers). Extends the horse-racing metaphor to any talent pool under one manager.

Common Mistakes

She hired a stable of a writer.

She hired a stable of writers.

The noun after 'stable of' must be plural.

Idioms

lock / close / shut the stable door after the horse has bolted

idiom

To try to prevent something bad from happening after it has already happened, making the effort useless.

Installing a security camera after the burglary is like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Apologising now after all the damage is done feels like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Word family

stability
nounB2
stabilize
verbB2
stabilization
nounC1
unstable
adjectiveB1
unstably
adverbC2
stabilizer
nounC1
instability
nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a lack of unwanted change, but they differ in scope. 'Stable' is the broadest: it covers physical objects that do not wobble (a stable table), economic conditions that do not fluctuate (stable prices), and emotional states that do not swing (a stable mood). 'Steady' emphasises even, continuous movement or control—a 'steady hand' does not shake, and 'steady progress' is measured and consistent. 'Balanced' focuses on equal distribution of weight or opposing forces; a 'balanced diet' includes the right proportions of nutrients, and a 'balanced person' moderates extremes. 'Constant' is the strongest—it means never varying at all, which can feel unnatural in human contexts: 'constant pain' is undesirable, whereas 'stable pain' would be manageably unchanging. For everyday use, 'stable' is safest for describing objects and situations, while 'steady' fits actions and pace, 'balanced' fits choices and lifestyles, and 'constant' fits unchanging values or quantities.

stable ↗steady ↗balanced ↗constant ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

fairly stable
reasonably stable
relatively stable
remarkably stable
emotionally stable
chemically stable
politically stable

Phrases

stable as a rock
stable condition
stable environment
stable relationship
a stable of horses

Prepositions

stable at
stable in
stable under

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'stable' entered English through Old French 'estable', which came from Latin 'stabilis', meaning 'firm, steadfast, or able to stand'. The Latin root 'stare' (to stand) is also the source of related words like 'station', 'statue', and 'status'. The noun sense (a building for horses) developed because a stable is a place where horses stand and are kept securely. The chemical sense emerged in the 19th century as science needed a term for substances that do not easily change state.

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stable

stable — adjective

1. Firmly placed or supported so that something does not move, shake, or change une

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. Describes a person who has a healthy state of mind, deals with emotions in a cal

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. Describes a chemical substance or element that does not easily react with other

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

stable — noun

1. A building or a group of buildings where horses, ponies, or other farm animals a

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. All of the racehorses, racing cars, or other sports assets that one owner or tra

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. The collection of writers, athletes, performers, or other professionals all unde

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

lock / close / shut the stable door after the horse has bolted

stable — verb

1. To house a horse or other large animal inside a stable building where it is safe

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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