English Reference
Adjective

workable

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈwɝkəbəɫ/ UK /wˈɜːkəbəl/ work·able

adj.describing a plan, idea, or system that is practical and can actually be done in real life.

adj.capable of being put into practice or producing the desired effect. Often used to describe solutions or compromises that are realistic rather than perfect.


SIMPLE

We need to find a workable solution to this problem.

CONTEXTUAL

After hours of negotiation, the two teams finally reached a workable agreement that satisfied both budgets.

COMPLEX

While the theoretical model was elegant, the engineers struggled to translate it into a workable prototype that could withstand the pressures of mass production.

Usage

Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'seem' or 'become'.'


From work + -able.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated