WordGarden.iomoveable
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈuːvəbəl/
US
- /mˈuːvəbəl/
Meanings
Adjective
able to be moved or repositioned rather than fixed in place
not fixed to one date in the calendar and varying from year to year
Noun
an item of personal property treated as movable rather than fixed
Beyond the definition
Something that's moveable is not fixed in one place, so it can be shifted, carried, or transported. Think of a picnic basket full of goodies; the whole thing is moveable, so you can enjoy lunch wherever you like. Not everything is moveable, though. A mountain is definitely not. The word is most often used for things such as furniture, walls, shelves, or equipment that can be moved when needed. It can also be used in a wider sense for something that is not fixed, such as a date or deadline that can be changed.
The word "moveable" describes something that can be moved from one place to another. Usually, it suggests that the thing is not fixed in place and can be moved without changing what it is. A moveable chair, table, wall, or piece of equipment can be picked up, rolled, or shifted when needed.
Think about the difference between a house built on a foundation and a trailer home. While both provide shelter, only the trailer is truly moveable. The term often applies to objects designed to be repositioned or transported. Moveable type in printing presses, for example, made it possible to arrange and rearrange individual letters for printing. Today, people may also speak of moveable partitions, moveable shelving, or moveable storage units.
The word can also be used in a broader way for things that are not fixed, such as a moveable date or deadline. In legal contexts, "moveable property" refers to possessions that are not land or permanently attached to it, such as furniture, jewelry, or vehicles. In some varieties of English, especially outside the United States, "moveable" is a common spelling, while American English often prefers "movable."
So, whether you're rearranging your living room, working with equipment that can be shifted, or talking about property that is not fixed to land, "moveable" carries the idea of being able to change place rather than staying permanently where it is.
Examples
- 1
Furniture
The shelves are moveable, so you can make room for taller books.
- 2
Office layout
The office uses moveable walls to create smaller meeting rooms when needed.
- 3
Scheduling
The party is planned for Saturday, but the date is moveable if too many people are away.
- 4
Religious calendar
Easter is a moveable feast, so it falls on a different date each year.
- Phrasemoveable feast
a holiday whose date changes each year
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- moveablenounadjective
Forms
- moveablespluralnounadjective