portable

1 of 2

adjective

por·​ta·​ble ˈpȯr-tə-bəl 

1

a

: capable of being carried or moved about

a portable TV

b

: characterized by portability

a portable pension

c

: usable on many computers with little or no modification

portable software

2

archaic : bearable

portably

ˈpȯr-tə-blē 

adverb

portable

2 of 2

noun

: something that is portable

Synonyms

Adjective

• mobile
• movable
• moveable

Examples of portable in a Sentence

Adjective

Portable devices such as MP3 players are becoming increasingly popular.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This portable sound machine has a real fan inside to coax you to sleep with the sounds of moving air, without having to turn on your chilly air conditioner. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 20 Dec. 2024

This pocketable, portable cellular router uses the AT&T network to deliver tri-band WiFi 7 at 5G speeds on the go. —Anthony Karcz, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

Noun

Ultra portable, Waterproof, 10 Hours Battery, 0.87 Pounds, 5 Watts, 3.40 x 1.80 x 5.30 Inches $46.99 at Walmart $64.95 Save $17.96 Get Deal The JBL Clip 4 is a highly portable Bluetooth speaker designed for outdoor enthusiasts or just regular folks who want to listen to music in the shower. —Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 17 Dec. 2024

Kindle Paperwhite Lightweight and super portable, this is a must-have for travelers who want to take their next read on the go without the bulk of a book. —Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin portabilis, from Latin portare to carry — more at fare

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1708, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

portable

adjective

por·​ta·​ble

ˈpōrt-ə-bəl,

ˈpȯrt-

: possible to carry or move about

a portable computer

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English portable "capable of being carried or moved about," from early French portable (same meaning), from Latin portabilis (same meaning), from earlier portare "to carry" — related to portfolio, transport