livable

/ˈlɪvəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlɪvəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈli-və-bəl/ (ame, mw)

livable — adjective

  • livablepositive
  • more livablecomparative
  • most livablesuperlative

1. describes a house, apartment, room, or neighborhood that is in a condition good

1.形容詞B1
釋義

describes a house, apartment, room, or neighborhood that is in a condition good enough for people to live in — even if basic or modest.

例句

After weeks of repairs, the old apartment was finally clean and livable again.

be + finally + livable again (return to acceptable state)

Diego looked for a new flat because the one he had was too small and barely livable.

barely livable (minimum acceptable condition)

同義詞
  • habitable

    more formal than 'livable', usually used in official or technical contexts ('the building was declared habitable')

  • inhabitable

    very similar to 'habitable'; focuses on whether people can live there at all ('the island is inhabitable year-round')

反義詞
  • unlivable

    direct opposite — conditions so poor that one cannot live there

  • uninhabitable

    formal antonym; often used in legal, insurance, or official language

文法句型

be + (barely/just/hardly/perfectly) + livable

用法筆記

Commonly paired with adverbs that express a minimum standard, such as 'barely', 'just', and 'hardly'. Without an adverb — e.g. 'a livable city' — the meaning is simply that the place meets basic requirements.

常見錯誤

❌The luxury hotel room was barely livable.
✅The budget hotel room was barely livable.
💡'livable' (especially with 'barely') describes conditions that meet only the minimum acceptable standard, not a high-quality place.
❌We found a very livable and comfortable office.
✅The office is clean and heated, so it is finally livable.
💡'livable' focuses on basic fitness for living/occupying, not comfort or luxury.

2. describes a life, situation, or daily experience that feels worth continuing or

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a life, situation, or daily experience that feels worth continuing or is possible to endure, even when things are difficult.

例句

After losing her job, Haru found life barely livable without the structure of a daily routine.

life + barely + livable (with difficulty enduring)

What made the long hospital stay livable for Ananya was the daily visit from her young daughter.

make + [period/stay] + livable for [person]

同義詞
  • bearable

    less formal; focuses on the ability to tolerate pain or hardship without breaking down

  • endurable

    slightly more formal; emphasises that the suffering is not so severe that one gives up

  • tolerable

    broadest of the three; can apply to annoyance, pain, or living conditions

反義詞
  • unbearable

    common opposite — describes a situation that is too painful or hard to continue

  • unendurable

    more intense and formal than 'unbearable'; rarely used in conversation

文法句型

make + [life/situation/day] + livable

用法筆記

When applied to life or a situation, 'livable' often appears in the pattern 'make something livable' — a key person or factor turns an otherwise hard experience into one that can be endured. Frequently used with 'barely', 'still', and 'hardly' to show that the tolerable state is fragile.

常見錯誤

❌The three-hour movie was barely livable.
✅The months of treatment were barely livable.
💡'livable' for experiences describes long-term life situations, not short individual events like a film or a single meal.
❌That livable salary is not enough for rent.
✅A livable salary is enough for basic needs.
💡The 'income' sense (enough to live on) exists in some dictionaries but is not standard in everyday usage; use 'living wage' instead.