# soluble

/ˈsɑɫjəbəɫ/ (US) · /sˈɒljuːbəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. able to be dissolved

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

describes a substance that can be mixed into a liquid until it disappears.

For teachers: capable of being dissolved, especially in water or another liquid solvent.

- Sugar is highly soluble in hot water, so it disappears quickly when you stir it.
- The laboratory results confirmed that the compound was only slightly soluble in cold ethanol, requiring a higher temperature to achieve full saturation.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'in'.

Teaching tip: While common in chemistry, students will also see this on food packaging, such as 'soluble fiber' or 'soluble coffee'.

### 2. able to be solved

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

describes a problem or mystery that has an answer or a way to fix it.

For teachers: susceptible of being solved, resolved, or explained.

- The manager believed that the conflict between the two teams was soluble through better communication.
- The philosopher argued that while some paradoxes are merely linguistic traps, others represent soluble problems that science will eventually address.

Teaching tip: In this abstract sense, 'insoluble' is actually more common than 'soluble' (e.g., 'an insoluble mystery').

## Examples

- Sugar is highly soluble in hot water.
- The doctor prescribed a soluble tablet that dissolves quickly in a glass of water for easier swallowing.
- Environmental scientists are concerned that these soluble pollutants may leach into the groundwater, potentially contaminating the local drinking supply for decades.

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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.