Durable meaning in English
Learn how to use Durable correctly with Gymglish.
Test and improve your English. Start your free trial today.
TEST YOUR ENGLISH
Free trial and no commitment to buy
4,7 on App Store, Play Store and Trustpilot
More than 8 million learners worldwide
Definition
durable: lasting, permanent; resistant, strong, tough
We sell durable household appliances. They are guaranteed to last a very long time.
durability resistance, strength; permanence, stability
Pronunciation examples
UK: We sell durable household appliances.
US: Plastic is a very durable material.
Examples
- "Kevin : We are looking for some durable plastic containers and jars."
- "We are looking for some durable plastic containers and jars, cases for our lipstick, and tubes for hair care products."
- "I suggest making the statue out of titanium – it will be light, durable and won't corrode - but it will be more expensive."
Exercise 1
"We are looking for some durable plastic containers".
Which of the following statements could replace this one and express the same meaning?
Which of the following statements could replace this one and express the same meaning?
"We are looking for some durable plastic containers".
Which of the following statements could replace this one and express the same meaning?
Which of the following statements could replace this one and express the same meaning?
"Durable" is not synonymous with "heavy", which describes an object with a lot of mass, which is difficult to carry.
Although "durable" has a meaning close to "hard" (in the sense of solid), Kevin is not expressing the "difficulty" of finding containers.
"Sustainable development" refers to construction that can be maintained over time without damaging the environment. It has nothing to do with the containers Kevin is describing.
"Durable" is being used here in the sense of "solid and long-lasting". A "container" describes anything (a cup, a box, a crate) which "contains" or holds something.
This is an extremely literal interpretation of Kevin's statement. Kevin is expressing his company's desire to find a production source, not his personal desire for containers.
Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks with terms used in the audio.
This term is synonymous with "solid", "long-lasting" and "resistant". "The fabric of these trousers must be strong and , I have worn them every day for 2 years."
This term describes material that is used "to protect" or "to wrap" products. "Delavigne Corp tries to use recycled materials for the of its products."
This term refers to a journey using a means of transport, such as a car. "It was dark and cold outside, so I offered to give her a to the station."
This term is synonymous with "solid", "long-lasting" and "resistant". "The fabric of these trousers must be strong and , I have worn them every day for 2 years."
This term describes material that is used "to protect" or "to wrap" products. "Delavigne Corp tries to use recycled materials for the of its products."
This term refers to a journey using a means of transport, such as a car. "It was dark and cold outside, so I offered to give her a to the station."
Fill in the blanks with terms used in the audio.
This term is synonymous with "solid", "long-lasting" and "resistant". "The fabric of these trousers must be strong and durable 1, I have worn them every day for 2 years."
This term describes material that is used "to protect" or "to wrap" products. "Delavigne Corp tries to use recycled materials for the packaging 2 of its products."
This term refers to a journey using a means of transport, such as a car. "It was dark and cold outside, so I offered to give her a ride 3 to the station."
This term is synonymous with "solid", "long-lasting" and "resistant". "The fabric of these trousers must be strong and durable 1, I have worn them every day for 2 years."
This term describes material that is used "to protect" or "to wrap" products. "Delavigne Corp tries to use recycled materials for the packaging 2 of its products."
This term refers to a journey using a means of transport, such as a car. "It was dark and cold outside, so I offered to give her a ride 3 to the station."
1 durable: A "durable (fabric)" is "strong", "lasting" and "resistant". Example: Their relationship is so durable, it's lasted a long time. Kevin says that he is "looking for some durable plastic containers", meaning that they shouldn't break easily.
2 packaging: "Packaging" describes materials such as "boxes", "card" and "plastic", that are used to protect and wrap products. Kevin asks Mrs Lee if ChinaCorp "can handle our cosmetic packaging as well".
3 ride: A "ride" is a journey on a means of transport or a "lift" (in a car); often an offer of a car trip to someone who would normally walk or take public transport. Mrs Lee offers Kevin "a ride" back to his hotel, meaning she will drive him there.
Exercise 3
"...it will be light, durable and won't corrode..."
Which of the following could be described as being "durable"? There may be more than one possible answer.
Which of the following could be described as being "durable"? There may be more than one possible answer.
"...it will be light, durable and won't corrode..."
Which of the following could be described as being "durable"? There may be more than one possible answer.
Which of the following could be described as being "durable"? There may be more than one possible answer.
This is a correct choice. A friendship or relationship can be described as being "durable" if it is robust and long-lasting. Example: They have a very DURABLE marriage that has overcome many difficulties.
This is a correct choice. If a material is "durable", it is "strong", "lasting" and "resistant". Example: These car tyres are more expensive but very DURABLE - you won't need to replace them for a long time. In the conversation, Jackson Bollocks says that one of the reasons the statue should be made out of titanium is because it is a durable metal that is solid and long-lasting.
This is an incorrect choice. The term "durable" is not used to describe food. Food that lasts a long time without decaying or turning bad is usually described as being "nonperishable" or as having a "long shelf life".
This is an incorrect choice. In English, "durable" is not used as a synonym of "sustainable". The term "durable" is not used to describe resources that are replenished at a rate equal to, or greater than, the rate of consumption; neither is "durable" used to describe the use of natural products and energy in a way that does not harm the environment.
Exercise 4
Rubber is .
It is hard to determine the correct answer from the context alone, so give your best guess!
It is hard to determine the correct answer from the context alone, so give your best guess!
Rubber is a natural or synthetic elastic material.
It is hard to determine the correct answer from the context alone, so give your best guess!
It is hard to determine the correct answer from the context alone, so give your best guess!
a natural or synthetic elastic material: This is correct. Rubber is indeed an elastic material made either naturally from rubber trees, or even synthetically. Note: "an eraser" (an object for removing pencil marks from paper) can be made of rubber or other materials.
a hard, durable metallic material: This is incorrect. Rubber is not metallic.
a combustible gas used to power electronic devices : This is incorrect. Rubber not a gas.
something that cows chew: This is an interesting choice, and I commend your bravery in selecting it. I believe cows usually chew something called "cud", which is food regurgitated from one of the four partitions of the cow's stomach, and then masticated at the beast's leisure. The seems like a great way to spend an afternoon in my opinion.
Still unsure of the best way to use 'Durable'? Improve your English thanks to our online English lessons. We offer a free test as well as a free level assessment!
What our users say:
Test your English with Gymglish today and get a free level assessment
Absolutely free - no strings attached.
