English Reference
Adjective

livable

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈɫɪvəbəɫ/ liv·able

adj.describing a place that is comfortable and safe to live in. It can also mean that a situation is good enough to be acceptable for a person's life.

adj.suitable for habitation or providing a satisfactory standard of living. Often used to describe urban environments, housing conditions, or economic stability.


SIMPLE

The city is working to make the downtown area more livable.

CONTEXTUAL

After the rent increased by fifty percent, the apartment was no longer considered livable for a single person.

COMPLEX

Urban planners argue that a truly livable city must balance high-density housing with accessible green spaces and efficient public transportation to prevent social isolation.

Let’s make it a friendly competition of who can make their capital a healthier, more livable city.

The Guardian· 25 Aug 2026

From live + -able.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated