1
: a building in which domestic animals are sheltered and fed
especially
: such a building having stalls or compartments
a horse stable
2
a
: the racehorses of one owner
b
: a group of people (such as athletes, writers, or performers) under one management
c
: the racing cars of one owner
d
: group, collection
stabler
ˈstā-b(ə-)lər 
; stablest
ˈstā-b(ə-)ləst
; stablest
ˈstā-b(ə-)ləst
1
2
3
a(1)
: placed so as to resist forces tending to cause motion or change of motion
(2)
: designed so as to develop forces that restore the original condition when disturbed from a condition of equilibrium or steady motion
b(1)
: not readily altering in chemical makeup or physical state
stable emulsions
(2)
: not spontaneously radioactive
Synonyms
Examples of stable in a Sentence
Noun
She rode the horse back to the stable.
There have been three winners from his stable this season.
A new model will be added to the car company's stable of sedans.
Verb
Where do you stable your horses?
Adjective
They have a stable relationship.
Children need to be raised in a stable environment.
Make sure the platform is stable.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2024
And with an almost full stable of relievers available Sunday, Roberts felt another workable script was in place.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
Catherine Sabino, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
If the road is closed, hikers must park at the horse stables and walk a half-mile to the trailhead.
—Katie Linsky Shaw, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2024
Carrie A. Lee, Foreign Affairs, 19 Nov. 2024
Underfoot, the flexible sole provides unobtrusive support and a stable, comfortable platform without drawing attention to itself.
—The Editors, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stable 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Through a melodic flow of political parlance and an impressive stable of sprightly actors, creator Debora Cahn stages a spirited play about political relationships — and relationship politics — that never feels stodgy or stupefying, despite an ungodly amount of dialogue.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2024
And with an almost full stable of relievers available Sunday, Roberts felt another workable script was in place.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
Another Sforza, Duke Sforza Maria, stabled his finest horses in the area, which led to the creation of the town’s Palio, a race similar to the famous one in Siena.
—Catherine Sabino, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
If the road is closed, hikers must park at the horse stables and walk a half-mile to the trailhead.
—Katie Linsky Shaw, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2024
Adjective
The threats Hamas and Hezbollah posed to Israel allowed Iran to exert power across the region while holding Israelis indirectly at risk, which—combined with Israel’s deterrence in the form of its superior military power—produced a stable equilibrium.
—Carrie A. Lee, Foreign Affairs, 19 Nov. 2024
Underfoot, the flexible sole provides unobtrusive support and a stable, comfortable platform without drawing attention to itself.
—The Editors, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stable
Dictionary Entries Near stable
Cite this Entry
“Stable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stable. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stable
1 of 3 noun
sta·ble
ˈstā-bəl
1
: a building in which domestic animals are sheltered and fed
especially
: such a building having stalls or compartments
a horse stable
2
a
: the racehorses of one owner
b
: a group of athletes (as boxers) under one management
stable
3 of 3 adjective
stabler
-b(ə-)lər
; stablest
-b(ə-)ləst
; stablest
-b(ə-)ləst
1
2
3
: not readily changing in chemical composition or physical state
a stable compound
Etymology
Noun
Middle English stable "a place where animals are sheltered," from early French estable (same meaning), from Latin stabulum (same meaning), from stare "to stand"
Adjective
Middle English stable "fixed, not moving or changing," from early French estable (same meaning), from Latin stabilis (same meaning), from stare "to stand"
Medical Definition
stable
adjective
sta·ble
ˈstā-bəl
stabler
-b(ə-)lər
; stablest
-b(ə-)ləst
; stablest
-b(ə-)ləst
1
: not changing or fluctuating
the patient's condition was listed as stable
2
: not subject to insecurity or emotional illness
a stable personality
3
a
: not readily altering in chemical makeup or physical state
stable emulsions
b
: not spontaneously radioactive
a stable isotope
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