vi ‧ a ‧ ble /ˈvaɪəb ə l/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: French ; Origin: vie 'life' , from Latin vita ; ⇨ ↑ vital ]
1 . a viable idea, plan, or method can work successfully
viable alternative/proposition/option etc
The committee came forward with one viable solution.
economically/commercially/financially viable
Will a hotel here be financially viable?
2 . technical able to continue to live or to develop into a living thing OPP non-viable :
viable seeds
—viably adverb
—viability /ˌvaɪəˈbɪləti, ˌvaɪəˈbɪlɪti/ noun [uncountable] :
the long-term economic viability of the company
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
▪ economically/commercially/financially viable
New projects must be economically viable.
■ nouns
▪ a viable alternative
We want to make public transport a viable alternative to using cars.
▪ a viable option
Moving the company was not a viable option.
▪ a viable proposition (=an idea that will work)
Is this kind of tourism a viable proposition?
▪ a viable solution
Perhaps the only viable solution is to merge the hospitals.
▪ a viable business
He turned the farm into a viable business.
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THESAURUS
▪ possible if something is possible, it can be done or achieved:
I think it’s possible that we could win the race.
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I want to get back by 5 o'clock if possible.
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Please let me know your answer as soon as possible.
▪ feasible if an idea or plan is feasible, it is possible and you can find a practical way of doing it:
We need to find out first if the idea is technically feasible.
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It is not feasible to have security cameras in every part of the building.
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Da Silva considered it feasible that uranium could be produced on an industrial scale.
▪ viable possible and likely to be successful, and therefore worth doing:
Nuclear energy is the only viable alternative to coal or gas.
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The product needs to be commercially viable.
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We have yet to find a viable solution to the problem.
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The company was no longer financially viable (=it could not make enough money to be able to continue) .
▪ workable a workable plan, system, or solution is one that can be done or used:
By early morning, they had arrived at a workable and safe solution.
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The company would have a tough job convincing people that the deal was workable.
▪ doable informal if something is doable, you have enough money, energy, or skill to do it:
This exercise programme is doable for most people.
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Do you think the walk is doable?
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Hosting great parties is fun, easy, and doable on any budget.
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The book is full of interesting and doable recipes.
▪ achievable ( also attainable formal ) able to be achieved:
A 15% cut in carbon emissions is achievable.
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Perfect democracy is not attainable, nor is perfect freedom or perfect justice.
▪ realistic if something is realistic, it seems sensible to think that it can be done or achieved:
a realistic target
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Their expectations didn’t seem very realistic.
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It is important to set yourself realistic goals.