Standard Lemma guide

opposable

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Susceptible to being opposed or resisted.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: unopposable

2

adj

Meaning 2

Capable of being placed opposite something else.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The thumb is opposable to the forefinger.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: nonopposable

3

adjective

Meaning 3

capable of being placed opposite to something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the thumb is opposable to the forefinger

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: apposable

Antonyms: unopposable

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English oppose Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-dhlom Proto-Indo-European *-dhlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English opposable From oppose + -able.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: weerstaanbaar — susceptible to being resisted
  • Finnish: vastustettava — susceptible to being resisted
  • Dutch: opponeerbaar — capable of being placed opposite
  • Finnish: vastakkainen — capable of being placed opposite
  • French: opposable — capable of being placed opposite
  • Polish: przeciwstawny — capable of being placed opposite