ENGLISH
REFERENCE

comfortable

adj.
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈkəmfɝtəbəɫ// UK //kˈʌmftəbəl// com·fort·able Archaic General-service

adj. providing a pleasant feeling of relaxation for your body or mind. You also use it to describe having enough money to live without worry.

adj. providing physical ease or relaxation; free from stress or financial hardship. Often used to describe furniture, clothing, or a secure socio-economic status.


SIMPLE

This new sofa is very comfortable.

CONTEXTUAL

After a long day of hiking, she changed into comfortable clothes and sat by the fire.

COMPLEX

The family maintained a comfortable lifestyle in the suburbs, supported by a steady income that allowed for annual vacations and significant savings.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English comfortable, from Old French confortable, from conforter. By surface analysis, comfort + -able.

Usage

Can be used both for physical sensations and for abstract states like financial security or social confidence.

Pitfall

I am comfortable with this chairI am comfortable in this chairWhen referring to physical ease provided by furniture, use 'in' for chairs or 'on' for sofas; 'with' usually implies being okay with a situation.

Idioms1 entry

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