WordGarden.iomobile
A1Pronunciation
UK
US
- /ˈmoʊbəl/
Meanings
Adjective
able to move or be moved easily rather than staying fixed in one place
designed for or used on smartphones, tablets, or similar portable devices
Noun
a mobile phone
a hanging decoration or toy with parts that balance and move freely in the air
Beyond the definition
The word "mobile" is all about movement. At its heart, it describes something that can move or can be moved easily from place to place. You might hear it used for things like a mobile home or a mobile clinic, both of which are made to be moved when needed. Today, many people also connect the word with a mobile phone, since it is not tied to one place and can go with you. So whether it describes a service, a structure, or a phone, the idea is usually the same: it is not fixed and can move.
At its core, "mobile" means able to move or designed to be moved easily. The word is often used for things that are not fixed in one place. A mobile home, for example, can be moved to a different location. A mobile clinic or mobile library brings services to different areas instead of staying in one building. In this sense, the word suggests flexibility and movement.
The word is also common when talking about people, groups, or systems that can move quickly or operate in different places. An army can be mobile if it can move fast. Workers can be mobile if their job allows them to travel from place to place. In everyday English, though, one of the most common meanings now relates to technology.
Today, "mobile" often refers to phones, tablets, and the software made for them. A mobile phone is one you carry with you, and a mobile app is designed for use on that kind of device. There is also a noun sense: a mobile can be a hanging decoration, often placed over a baby's bed, that moves gently in the air.
Across these uses, the main idea stays the same. If something is mobile, it is able to move, travel, or be carried from one place to another rather than staying fixed in one spot.
Examples
- 1
Phone number
What's your mobile number?
- 2
British phone
I forgot my mobile on the train this morning.
- Usagemy mobile
my mobile phone, especially in British English
- 3
Banking app
The bank lets customers do everything through a mobile app.
- 4
Physical movement
After the operation, she wasn't very mobile for a few weeks.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Work travel
Our sales team has to stay mobile and meet clients in different cities.
- Phrasestay mobile
be able to move or travel easily
- 6
Devices
More people shop on mobile devices than on desktop computers now.
- 7
Baby toy
The baby lay quietly, watching the mobile above her bed.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- mobile unit
- mobile home
- mobile workforce
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- mobilenounadjective
Forms
- mobilespluralnounadjective