sociable
/ˈsəʊʃəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsəʊʃəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsō-shə-bəl/ (ame, mw)
sociable — adjective
- sociablepositive
- more sociablecomparative
- most sociablesuperlative
1. A sociable person naturally enjoys being around other people, starting conversat
A sociable person naturally enjoys being around other people, starting conversations, and joining group activities rather than staying alone.
Anna is very sociable and quickly made friends on her first day at school.
sociable + made friends [describing a personality trait]
Kenji's sociable nature means he never feels shy at parties or large gatherings.
The dog was unusually sociable, wagging its tail at every stranger who passed by.
Being sociable helps Zuri build strong connections in her new neighbourhood.
Renata used to eat alone, but she became sociable after joining the office book club and now chats with co-workers.
- outgoing
emphasises confidence and enthusiasm in meeting new people; slightly more active than sociable
- friendly
broader term for kind and pleasant behaviour, not necessarily seeking company
- gregarious
more formal and literary; describes someone who actively seeks the company of others
- unsociable
the direct opposite — prefers to be alone or avoids social contact
- reserved
quieter and less inclined to share thoughts; not necessarily disliking company
用法筆記
Often used with intensifying adverbs: very sociable, extremely sociable, naturally sociable. The opposite is unsociable (someone who prefers to be alone).
常見錯誤
2. A sociable event, activity, or atmosphere is one where people can relax, talk to
A sociable event, activity, or atmosphere is one where people can relax, talk to each other, and enjoy time together in a warm and welcoming way.
The club holds a sociable evening once a month with music and board games.
sociable + evening / atmosphere [collocation with event nouns]
Ari prefers small, sociable dinners over big, noisy parties.
The café has a sociable atmosphere where strangers often chat at shared tables.
Friday afternoons are set aside for sociable activities like tea and conversation.
- unsociable
can also describe an atmosphere that discourages interaction
- formal
describes an event with strict rules rather than relaxed interaction
用法筆記
Describes the character of an event or place, not the people attending. Compare sense 1 (LIKES PEOPLE): an unsociable person can attend a sociable event.
常見錯誤
sociable — noun
1. An informal social gathering where people come together to talk, eat, drink, and
An informal social gathering where people come together to talk, eat, drink, and spend time pleasantly, often held by a community group or organisation.
The neighbourhood holds a sociable every Sunday in the community hall.
hold a sociable [collocation: verb + sociable as noun]
Camila invited everyone to a sociable at her place to welcome the new family.
The church sociable raised money for the local food bank.
Tariro met her neighbours for the first time at the annual street sociable.
- social
the more modern and common noun for an informal gathering
- get-together
informal; emphasises the casual nature of the event
用法筆記
This noun sense is much less common than the adjective. It is most often found in older or community-oriented contexts (church groups, neighbourhood associations). In modern everyday English, 'social' or 'get-together' is more common for this meaning.