# mobile

/ˈmoʊbəɫ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mobile
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. portable

adjective · CEFR A2

able to be moved easily from one place to another.

For teachers: capable of being moved or transported; not fixed in one location.

- The library has a mobile unit that visits small villages every week.
- The military established a mobile command centre that could be dismantled and relocated within hours of receiving new orders.

### 2. able to move

adjective · CEFR B1

able to walk or move your body freely.

For teachers: having the physical ability to move or walk, often used in medical or social contexts.

- After the surgery, it took several weeks before he was mobile again.
- Physiotherapy is essential for ensuring that elderly patients remain mobile and independent for as long as possible.

### 3. relating to phones

adjective · CEFR A2

connected to mobile phones or the internet on your phone.

For teachers: pertaining to or transmitted by cellular technology and handheld devices.

- I prefer using the mobile app because it is faster than the website.
- The developer prioritised the mobile version of the interface, recognising that most users would access the platform via smartphones.

### 4. a phone

noun · CEFR A2 · British English

a mobile phone.

For teachers: a handheld cellular telephone. Often used as a clipped form in non-American dialects.

- I left my mobile at home, so I couldn't call you.
- She checked her mobile for messages as soon as the plane touched down on the runway.

Usage: In British English, 'mobile' is the standard word for a phone, whereas American English prefers 'cell phone'.

### 5. hanging art

noun · CEFR B2

a decoration made of shapes hanging on wires that move in the air.

For teachers: a type of kinetic sculpture with delicately balanced parts that move in response to air currents.

- The baby watched the colourful mobile hanging above the crib.
- The museum's atrium featured a massive steel mobile that rotated slowly whenever the main doors were opened.

## Examples

- I left my mobile on the kitchen table.
- She checked her mobile for any missed calls as soon as the plane landed at the airport.
- The rapid adoption of the mobile as a primary computing device has fundamentally altered how people access information and maintain social connections in the digital age.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.