usable

usable — adjective

1. Available for someone to use, either because it is free, working, or accessible.

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

Available for someone to use, either because it is free, working, or accessible.

Example

Gita checked whether the library computers were still usable before her class started.

be + still + usable — common pattern after repair or checking

The old fire escape was rusty but remained usable in an emergency.

Common collocations
  • still usable
  • barely usable
  • perfectly usable
  • no longer usable
  • fully usable
  • usable condition
Synonyms
  • available

    Emphasises that something is free and ready, not that it works; 'available' is broader.

  • functional

    More specific — focuses on whether the thing works properly, not just whether it can be accessed.

  • serviceable

    More formal; implies adequate but not excellent condition, often for equipment.

Antonyms
  • unusable

    Direct opposite — cannot be used at all.

  • broken

    Informal; suggests the item is physically damaged and not working.

Grammar Patterns

be usable

remain usable

become usable

Usage Note

Often appears with adverbs of time or condition such as 'still', 'barely', 'no longer', or 'perfectly'. The opposite 'unusable' is very common for saying something cannot be used at all.

Common Mistakes

The phone is useable.
The phone is usable.
'Useable' is a rare British variant; 'usable' is the standard spelling in both American and British English.

2. Designed or arranged so that people can work with it easily and without trouble.

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Designed or arranged so that people can work with it easily and without trouble.

Example

Hamza designed a simple interface that made the app usable for elderly patients.

make + object + usable for [group]

The new kitchen layout is more usable because the shelves stay within easy reach.

Common collocations
  • more usable
  • less usable
  • usable design
  • usable interface
  • usable layout
Synonyms
  • user-friendly

    More specific — describes software, devices, or services that are easy for beginners.

  • convenient

    Broader — also covers location, timing, and general helpfulness, not just ease of use.

  • practical

    Focuses on effectiveness for a real purpose rather than on ease of handling.

Antonyms
  • awkward

    Describes something that is difficult to handle or operate.

  • inconvenient

    Implies the design makes the task harder rather than easier.

Grammar Patterns

be usable

find something usable

make something usable

Usage Note

Subject is typically a designed object, space, or system — a tool, website, app, room, or layout. This sense focuses on convenience and ease, not on whether the item works at all.

3. In good enough condition to serve its normal purpose, even if the item is old, w

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

In good enough condition to serve its normal purpose, even if the item is old, worn, or not perfect.

Example

Hoa's bicycle was battered but still usable for her short commute to school.

still usable — old but adequate

The chef decided the cracked chopping board was no longer usable.

Common collocations
  • still usable
  • barely usable
  • perfectly usable
  • no longer usable
  • usable condition
Synonyms
  • serviceable

    More formal; often used for equipment that works adequately but not perfectly.

  • functional

    Focuses on whether the item works, not on cosmetic condition.

  • working

    Informal; simply means the item operates as intended.

Antonyms
  • useless

    Stronger — implies no value for any purpose.

  • worn-out

    Describes an item that has deteriorated past the point of being usable.

  • defective

    Suggests a fault or flaw that prevents proper use.

Grammar Patterns

be usable

remain usable

stay usable

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (AVAILABLE FOR USE): sense 3 implies the item is already present and in your possession but shows some wear or damage. Sense 1 asks whether the item is accessible or working at all. This sense is common in discussions about secondhand goods, repairs, and resource management.

Common Mistakes

The car battery is usable now that I have bought a new one.
The car battery is usable now that I have charged it.
'Usable' means the item is in condition to use, not that you have obtained it.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Usable is the broadest of these four: it simply means something can be used, whether because it works, is free, or is accessible. Functional narrows the focus to whether the thing operates properly — a phone with a cracked screen may be usable but not fully functional if the touch input is affected. Serviceable is more formal and implies the item works adequately for its purpose despite visible wear or imperfection, like a ten-year-old car that still gets you to work every morning. Available adds the dimension of access: something may be perfectly functional yet not usable because it is locked away or already in someone else's hands. For everyday situations, choose usable for general situations, functional when checking operation, and available when access is the barrier.

usable ↗functional ↗serviceableavailable ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in usable condition
  • usable for its intended purpose
  • made usable by
  • found to be usable

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Usable comes from the Old French word 'usable', meaning 'that can be used', which developed from the verb 'user' (to use). The French verb traces back to the Latin 'usus', the past participle of 'uti' (to use, to make use of). The word entered English in the late 1300s and has been spelled 'usable' consistently since the 1700s, though the variant 'useable' appears occasionally in British writing.