renewable

/rɪˈnjuːəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /rɪˈnuːəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ri-ˈnü-ə-bəl -ˈnyü-/ (ame, mw)

renewable — adjective

1. describes sources of energy such as sunlight or wind that nature replaces at the

1.形容詞B1
釋義

describes sources of energy such as sunlight or wind that nature replaces at the same speed people use them, so they never run out.

例句

The island now gets most of its electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar.

collocation: renewable sources

Tanvi's company invested in renewable energy to shrink its carbon footprint.

collocation: renewable energy

同義詞
  • sustainable

    broader — includes social and economic longevity, not only natural replenishment

  • clean

    focuses on low pollution rather than replenishment; not all clean energy is renewable

  • green

    informal and broader — describes any environmentally friendly practice

  • inexhaustible

    stronger — suggests supply cannot be used up; used only for truly limitless sources like sunlight

反義詞
  • non-renewable

    direct opposite — sources that exist in fixed amounts and will eventually run out

  • finite

    emphasises limited quantity rather than the inability to replenish

  • fossil-fuel-based

    specific to energy context — describes coal, oil, and natural gas

用法筆記

Subject is almost always energy, power, resources, or sources of energy. Do not use this sense for objects that can be renewed by human effort (e.g., a library book or a passport) — that belongs to sense 2.

常見錯誤

❌Nuclear energy is a renewable source because it can be produced in reactors.
✅Nuclear energy is not a renewable source
💡it depends on finite uranium that cannot be replaced by nature.' — Renewable means naturally replenished (sun, wind, water); nuclear fuel is mined and finite.

2. describes an official document or agreement that can be extended to stay valid f

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describes an official document or agreement that can be extended to stay valid for another period after it expires.

例句

Jude applied for a renewable work visa that lasts two years.

collocation: renewable visa

The rental contract is renewable every twelve months if both parties agree.

collocation: renewable contract / lease

同義詞
  • extendable

    more common in everyday usage; often interchangeable with renewable for documents

  • prolongable

    very formal; emphasises making something last longer in time

  • continuable

    rare; focuses on the ability to continue without interruption

反義詞
  • non-renewable

    also used for documents — means the document expires permanently and cannot be extended

  • fixed-term

    describes an agreement that ends on a set date with no extension option

  • non-extendable

    explicitly states that no extension is allowed

用法筆記

Subject is always an official or legal document (visa, licence, permit, contract, lease, subscription). Frequently used in passive constructions: 'this visa is renewable for up to five years.' Not used for energy or natural resources.

常見錯誤

❌I need to renewable my passport before the trip.
✅I need to renew my passport before the trip.
💡Renewable is an adjective; the verb form is 'renew'.