-ible

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variant of -able, occurring in words borrowed from Latin (credible; horrible; visible), or modeled on the Latin type (reducible).

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of -ible

<Latin -ibil(is) or -ībil(is), equivalent to -i- or -ī- thematic vowel + -bilis-ble

Words nearby -ible

ibidem, -ibility, ibis, Ibiza, Ibizan hound, -ible, Iblis, -ibly, ibn, ibn-al-Arabi, Ibn al-Haytham

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use -ible in a sentence

Redress′ible, that may be redressed; Redress′ive, affording redress; Redress′less, without relief.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R)|Various
The suffixes able and ible are sometimes troublesome because it is difficult to know which ending to write.
Business English|Rose Buhlig
Terr′ible-in′fant, an inconveniently outspoken child—the Fr.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)|Various
I who say it have preserve' my belief in what she will become through the discouragement ter-r-ible.
Sally of Missouri|R. E. Young

Our list of words in this week's lesson contain some of the most common words which we use ending in ible or able.
Plain English|Marian Wharton

British Dictionary definitions for -ible

-ible

suffix forming adjectives

a variant of -able

Derived forms of -ible

-ibly, suffix forming adverbs-ibility, suffix forming nouns

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012