comfortable

[ kuhm-fer-tuh-buhl, kuhmf-ter-buhl ]

adjective

1. (of clothing, furniture, etc.) producing or affording physical comfort, support, or ease:

   a comfortable chair;

   comfortable shoes.

2. being in a state of physical or mental comfort; contented and undisturbed; at ease:

   to be comfortable in new shoes;

   I don't feel comfortable in the same room with her.

3. (of a person, situation, etc.) producing mental comfort or ease; easy to accommodate oneself to or associate with:

   She's a comfortable person to be with.

4. more than adequate or sufficient:

   a comfortable salary.

5. Obsolete. cheerful.

noun

1. Chiefly Northern U.S. a quilted bedcover; comforter.

comfortable

/ ˈkʌmfətəbəl; ˈkʌmftəbəl /

adjective

1. giving comfort or physical relief
2. at ease
3. free from affliction or pain
4. (of a person or situation) relaxing
5. informal.
   having adequate income
6. informal.
   (of income) adequate to provide comfort

Derived Forms

• ˈcomfortableness, noun
• ˈcomfortably, adverb

Other Words From

• com·fort·a·ble·ness com·fort·a·bil·i·ty [kuhm-fer-t, uh, -, bil, -i-tee, kuhmf-ter-, bil, -i-tee], noun
• com·fort·a·bly adverb
• qua·si-com·fort·a·ble adjective
• qua·si-com·fort·a·bly adverb
• su·per·com·fort·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of comfortable¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Anglo-French word confortable. See comfort, -able

Example Sentences

This all depends on the viewpoint of FTC Chair Lina Khan, who is reportedly more anti-business than many Democratic Party donors are comfortable with.

From Slate

"I guess it’s taken a long time. But I finally feel comfortable in my own skin and I feel proud of the music," he says.

From BBC

Thune, an amiable 63-year-old more comfortable talking about the Senate calendar than he is castigating his opposition as demonically possessed, gave his best shot at an opening partisan broadside in a press conference after the Senate GOP conclave.

From Slate

"You've got to be comfortable with yourself and understand your body, so you can tell others how it works. Self love is also really important."

From BBC

Zendaya has described working with her boyfriend Tom Holland as "strangely comfortable".

From BBC

Related Words

• appropriate
• complacent
• convenient
• cozy
• easy
• enjoyable
• happy
• healthy
• loose
• pleasant
• pleased
• relaxed
• satisfying
• serene
• snug
• soft
• useful
• warm