English Reference
adjective

resilient

adj.
US /ɹɪˈzɪɫjənt/ UK /ɹɪsˈɪliənt/ re·silient

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens.

    able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions, trauma, or systemic shocks.

    Simple

    Children are often more resilient than adults when moving to a new country.

    In context

    The local economy proved remarkably resilient, rebounding within months after the primary manufacturing plant was forced to close.

    Usage

    Often followed by the preposition 'to' when describing resistance to specific stressors.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical Science

    able to return to its original shape after being pulled, pushed, or bent.

    capable of returning to an original shape or position after being compressed or stretched; possessing elasticity.

    Simple

    The running track is made of a resilient rubber material that protects the athletes' joints.

    In context

    Engineers selected a resilient polymer for the gasket to ensure it maintained a tight seal despite constant pressure fluctuations.

Clay brick is especially resilient because it was already fired at 1,650 to 1,800 F (900 to 1,000 C) when it was made .

The Conversation· 13 Aug 2026

Military pressure, however, addresses only part of what makes criminal groups resilient.

The Conversation· 10 Aug 2026

Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re- Proto-Indo-European *sel-der. Proto-Italic *saljō Latin saliō Latin resiliō Proto-Indo-European *-onts Latin -ns Latin -ēns Latin resiliēnsder. English resilient Borrowed from Latin resiliēns (“rebounding”, present active participle of resiliō).

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated