supple
gb/sˈʌpəl/ us/sˈʌpəl/
B2
English
rugalmas, hajlékony, puhít, lágyít
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[material/object] is supple
After a few weeks of wear, the leather became soft and supple.
Néhány hét használat után a bőr puha és rugalmas lett.
Choose a supple cable that won’t crack in cold weather.
Olyan rugalmas kábelt válassz, amely hidegben sem repedezik meg.
The lotion helps keep your skin supple in winter.
Learner examples
This leather is supple.
Ez a bőr puha és rugalmas.
My hands feel more supple after I use cream.
A kezem bőre puhábbnak és rugalmasabbnak érződik, miután bekrémezem.
Common mistake:
Don’t use it to mean only “soft” without the idea of flexibility (e.g., a pillow can be soft but not supple).
Meaning
soft and easy to bend
Collocations
supple leather
|supple fabric
|supple plastic
|supple hide
|supple gloves
|supple boots
|supple skin
|become supple
|keep it supple
|soft and supple
Synonyms
pliable (Often used for materials that can be bent or shaped.)
|
flexible (More general; less focused on softness.)
Antonyms
stiff (Not easy to bend or move.)
|
rigid (Hard and inflexible; strongly resistant to bending.)
Themes
materials
|clothing
|daily_life
Definition
Soft and flexible; easy to bend.
Able to bend, fold, or be shaped easily without breaking; soft and flexible rather than stiff.
B2
2
hajlékony
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone/body/movement] is supple
She stretches every morning to stay supple.
Minden reggel nyújt, hogy hajlékony maradjon.
Years of yoga have kept his back supple.
Az évek óta végzett jóga megőrizte a háta hajlékonyságát.
The gymnast’s supple movements made the routine look effortless.
Learner examples
Yoga helps me stay supple.
A jóga segít, hogy hajlékony maradjak.
He is supple and moves easily.
Hajlékony, és könnyedén mozog.
Common mistake:
“Supple” is closer to “flexible and smooth” than to “strong”; you can be supple without being muscular.
Meaning
physically flexible and graceful
Collocations
supple body
|supple muscles
|supple spine
|supple movements
|remain supple
|keep your body supple
|supple dancer
|supple athlete
|loose and supple
|young and supple
Synonyms
limber (More informal; often about being loosened up for activity.)
|
flexible (Neutral and common; less of a “smooth/graceful” feeling.)
Antonyms
inflexible (Not able to bend or move easily.)
|
stiff (Hard to move; not relaxed or flexible.)
Themes
health
|sports
|body_and_movement
Definition
Able to move easily because your body is flexible.
Able to move and bend easily and smoothly; flexible in a way that often looks graceful.
C1
3
rugalmas
B1
Usage pattern:
a supple [mind/approach/strategy]
The team needs a more supple approach to problem-solving.
A csapatnak rugalmasabb megközelítésre van szüksége a problémamegoldásban.
A supple mind can hold two competing ideas without panic.
A rugalmas elme pánik nélkül is képes egyszerre két versengő gondolatot fejben tartani.
Good managers stay supple when plans change suddenly.
Learner examples
We need a supple plan.
Rugalmas tervre van szükségünk.
Try to be supple when things change.
Próbálj rugalmas maradni, amikor változnak a dolgok.
Common mistake:
This meaning is about adapting smoothly, not about being weak or easily controlled.
Meaning
adaptable; not rigid in thinking
Collocations
supple mind
|supple approach
|supple strategy
|supple thinking
|supple response
|supple attitude
|intellectually supple
|remain supple
|a supple framework
|a supple system
Synonyms
adaptable (Very common and direct; less vivid than “supple.”)
|
flexible (Common; can apply to schedules and rules as well as thinking.)
Antonyms
rigid (Unwilling to change or adjust.)
|
dogmatic (Too certain about beliefs; not open to change.)
Themes
business
|communication
|education
Definition
Able to change and adapt easily.
Willing and able to change, respond, or adjust easily; not rigid in ideas, plans, or methods.
VERB
C2
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
supple [something]
The conditioner is designed to supple the leather and prevent cracking.
Ezt az ápolószert arra tervezték, hogy megpuhítsa a bőrt és megelőzze a repedezést.
Gentle heat can supple the wax so it spreads evenly.
Az enyhe meleg meglágyíthatja a viaszt, így egyenletesen elterül.
He did a short warm-up to supple his shoulders before lifting.
Learner examples
This oil will supple the leather.
Ez az olaj megpuhítja a bőrt.
Common mistake:
This verb form is uncommon; in everyday English people usually say “soften,” “loosen,” or “flex.”
Meaning
make something more flexible
Collocations
supple the leather
|supple the hide
|supple the joints
|supple the muscles
|supple with oil
|supple by stretching
Synonyms
soften (Common; focuses on becoming less hard.)
|
loosen (Common; often used for muscles and joints.)
Antonyms
stiffen (To make or become less flexible.)
|
harden (To make or become hard and less pliable.)
Themes
crafts
|materials
|sports
Definition
To make something flexible.
To make something softer or more flexible, especially by warming, working, or treating it with oil or repeated movement.
Grammar
Dictionary form
supple
IPA
GB/sˈʌpəl/
US/sˈʌpəl/
Syllables & stress
supple (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (supple)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: supple
Expressions
keep [something] supple
1/kˈip sˈʌmθɪŋ sˈʌpəl/
fixed phrase
maintain softness and flexibility
To stop something from becoming stiff or dry.
Examples
- Moisturizer helps keep your skin supple.
- Regular conditioning will keep the leather supple for years.
- Stretching after work can keep your back supple.
Learner examples
- This cream keeps my skin supple.
supple as a cat
1/sˈʌpəl ˈæz ə kˈæt/
idiom
very flexible and graceful
Very flexible and graceful.
Examples
- Even in his sixties, he’s as supple as a cat.
- The dancer was as supple as a cat as she rolled into a split.
- After months of training, she felt as supple as a cat.
supple up
1/sˈʌpəl ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
loosen up; become flexible
To get your body ready by becoming more flexible.
Examples
- Take a few minutes to supple up before you start running.
- The coach had the team supple up with light stretches.
- A warm shower can help you supple up in the morning.
Learner examples
- I supple up before exercise.