stable
1 Americannoun
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a building for the lodging and feeding of horses, cattle, etc.
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such a building with stalls.
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a collection of animals housed in such a building.
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Horse Racing.
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an establishment where racehorses are kept and trained.
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the horses belonging to, or the persons connected with, such an establishment.
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Informal.
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a number of people, usually in the same profession, who are employed, trained, or represented by the same company, agency, manager, etc..
a comedy show with a large stable of writers.
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the establishment that trains or manages such a group of people.
two boxers from the same stable.
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a collection of items produced by or belonging to an establishment, industry, profession, or the like.
The American auto industry has some new small cars in its stable.
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verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
adjective
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not likely to fall or give way, as a structure, support, foundation, etc.; firm; steady.
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able or likely to continue or last; firmly established; enduring or permanent.
a stable government.
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resistant to sudden change or deterioration.
A stable economy is the aim of every government.
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steadfast; not wavering or changeable, as in character or purpose; dependable.
- Synonyms:
- steady, reliable, constant, staunch, invariable
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not subject to emotional instability or illness; sane; mentally sound.
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Physics. having the ability to react to a disturbing force by maintaining or reestablishing position, form, etc.
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Chemistry. not readily decomposing, as a compound; resisting molecular or chemical change.
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(of a patient's condition) exhibiting no significant change.
noun
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a building, usually consisting of stalls, for the lodging of horses or other livestock
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the animals lodged in such a building, collectively
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the racehorses belonging to a particular establishment or owner
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the establishment itself
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( as modifier )
stable companion
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informal a source of training, such as a school, theatre, etc
the two athletes were out of the same stable
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a number of people considered as a source of a particular talent
a stable of writers
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(modifier) of, relating to, or suitable for a stable
stable manners
verb
adjective
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steady in position or balance; firm
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lasting or permanent
a stable relationship
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steadfast or firm of purpose
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(of an elementary particle, atomic nucleus, etc) not undergoing decay; not radioactive
a stable nuclide
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(of a chemical compound) not readily partaking in a chemical change
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(of electronic equipment) with no tendency to self-oscillation
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Not susceptible to a process of decay, such as radioactivity. For example, the most common isotope of carbon, carbon 12, is stable. Protons and photons are examples of stable subatomic particles.
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See more at decay
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Relating to a chemical compound that does not easily decompose or change into other compounds. Water is an example of a stable compound.
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Relating to an atom or chemical element that is unlikely to share electrons with another atom or element.
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Not likely to change significantly or to deteriorate suddenly, as an individual's medical condition.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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stablesimple
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stablessimple
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have stabledperfect
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has stabledperfect
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am stablingprogressive
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are stablingprogressive
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is stablingprogressive
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have been stablingperfect progressive
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has been stablingperfect progressive
Past
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stabledsimple
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had stabledperfect
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was stablingprogressive
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were stablingprogressive
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had been stablingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of stable1
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English stable, stabel(e), from Old French estable, from Latin stabulum “stall; shed,” equivalent to sta-, stem of stāre “to stand” + -bulum noun suffix denoting place; see origin at stand
Origin of stable2
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English stable, stabel(e), from Old French estable, stable, from Latin stabilis stabile
Explanation
When something is stable, it's fixed and steady. If you needed advice, you'd probably go to your most stable friend, the one least likely to act crazy or be easily upset. Whether you're talking about an object or a person, the adjective stable implies reliability and strength. You can describe a government as stable, or a relationship, or a desk. A completely different meaning of stable is the noun "building used for housing horses or other animals." Both senses of the word come from the Latin stabilis, "firm or steadfast."
Vocabulary lists containing stable
List 8
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The Swedish steelmaker said high-strength steel markets in the Middle East were hurt by the hostilities, while overall global markets showed relatively stable demand.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
The prosecution argued that Baby O was born in good condition and was stable for 48 hours before he suddenly collapsed.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Despite rapid economic growth, millions of people in the world's most populous nation still struggle to find stable and well-paying jobs.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
“Even with strong and more stable fundamentals, energy is the cheapest group” in the S&P 500 by “a wide margin,” said Nicholas Colas, co-founder of DataTrek Research, in a note shared with MarketWatch Tuesday.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
I eased my conscience by giving him an extra-large portion of oats before opening the stable door for him.
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
Authorities also issued a warning for the equestrian stables at El Rodeo Equestrian Center.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026
He took his cockerpoo, Gulliver, for a walk in a paddock that was part of the stables, and because it was dark he used a torch.
From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2026
As part of the deal, TSG must pay for the demolition of the stables, grandstand and adjoining structures.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2026
The 147 horses were flown to the Horse Inn in Liège, Belgium, after being loaded into special air stables for transport.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 14, 2026
“That’s fine. Come on back to the stables and we can get your hosses took care of.”
From "The Journey of Little Charlie" by Christopher Paul Curtis
This new object is another with a very elliptical orbit, but it is stabler than 2017 OF201, which suggests that no large planet, including a hypothetical planet nine, is significantly affecting its path.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 9, 2026
But a stabler exchange rate, lower inflation and more robust growth have not yet helped those struggling to make ends meet.
From Reuters ● Oct. 3, 2023
They’re bringing with them clearer waters, stabler shores, and animals and other organisms that used to thrive there.
From New York Times ● May 24, 2023
Plus, the bond was thousands of times stabler than that of the next-strongest naturally occurring molecular suitor.
From Scientific American ● Dec. 28, 2021
But the thought flits through my mind, There have got to be stabler things than love.
From "Grendel" by John Gardner
Russell and Hawn famously have one of the stablest relationships in Hollywood, so you have to wonder how they looked at this script and thought, “Yup, that seems normal – sign us up!”
From The Guardian ● Apr. 13, 2018
It hasn't been the stablest year for MakerBot.
From The Verge ● Jul. 24, 2015
The prior studies simply targeted and featured the stablest, most educated gay couples.
From Slate ● Jun. 14, 2012
After 55 years of a generally prosperous "continuing revolution," Mexico has become the stablest major state in Latin America and an outspoken independent in international affairs.
From Time Magazine Archive
It must be remembered, too, that the stablest colleges have been proceeding with these changes many more years than the period shown in the table.
From The Teacher Essays and Addresses on Education by Palmer, Alice Freeman
Reincarnate, trained by Yakteen, will be the only horse regularly stabled in Southern California to run in the Derby.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2023
Afterward, EO is relocated to a farm, where he’s stabled alongside a white stallion whose privileged status doesn’t protect it from human desires and designs.
From New York Times ● Jan. 3, 2023
An unnamed filly trained by Jorge Abreu and stabled in Barn 86 was sent to an equine hospital track after coming down with a fever.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 20, 2021
The pony was usually stabled in Virginia but came frequently to the White House, where it was pictured roaming around the grounds.
From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2020
He showed me how he wanted the horses stabled and groomed.
From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson
Soon after, Churchill Downs announced it was suspending Baffert for two years through spring 2023, prohibiting the seven-time Derby winner from stabling or racing at tracks owned by Churchill Downs Inc.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 2, 2021
Oh, Laurel, owned by TSG, will get about $173 million in improvements to include a new clubhouse, stabling areas and a synthetic track.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2019
"The likelihood is that, because of its location, most of the early landlords were connected with horses, carriages and stabling," writes Dailey.
From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2017
Millfield's resources are truly staggering: an equestrian centre, stabling for 50 horses, a 50-metre Olympic swimming pool, Tartan athletics track, playing fields, a putting green, an indoor tennis centre and a fencing salle.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 7, 2012
Bast darted outside to see if there were horses that needed stabling.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.