Word
suitable
Phoneticssuit·able
US/ˈsutəbəɫ/
UK/sˈuːtəbəl/
Definition
adj. right or appropriate for a particular person, purpose, or situation. You use this when something fits the needs of the moment.
adj. right or appropriate for a particular person, purpose, or situation; meeting the required standards or conditions for a specific use.
Examples
“This movie is not suitable for young children.”
“The candidate has the right experience, but we need to decide if her personality is suitable for our team culture.”
“Finding a suitable location for the new laboratory required balancing the need for high-speed internet access with the necessity of a vibration-free environment far from heavy traffic.”
Examples
simple
“This movie is not suitable for young children.”
contextual
“The candidate has the right experience, but we need to decide if her personality is suitable for our team culture.”
complex
“Finding a suitable location for the new laboratory required balancing the need for high-speed internet access with the necessity of a vibration-free environment far from heavy traffic.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “suitable” in context.
Adjective
01. particularly suitable
“This small apartment is particularly suitable for a student living alone.”
adv + adj
02. suitable for
“The movie is not suitable for young children because it is quite scary.”
adj + prep
03. concurrent suitable
Usage
Commonly followed by the preposition 'for' or an infinitive 'to' phrase.
Pitfall
This is suitable to children.
This is suitable for children.
When indicating the intended recipient or audience, use 'for' rather than 'to'.
Etymology
From suit + -able.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/suitable