# resilient

/ɹɪˈzɪɫjənt/ (US) · /ɹɪsˈɪliənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/resilient
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. people/systems recovering

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

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

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The running track is made of a resilient rubber material that protects the athletes' joints.
- Engineers selected a resilient polymer for the gasket to ensure it maintained a tight seal despite constant pressure fluctuations.

## Examples

- She is a resilient person who never gives up.
- The local economy proved resilient despite the sudden closure of the city's largest factory.
- Ecologists are studying how certain coral species remain resilient in the face of rising ocean temperatures, hoping to apply these findings to wider conservation efforts.

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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.