mobile
gb/mˈoʊbəl/ us/mˈoʊbəl/
A1
English
~ 600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Able to move easily
Able to move or be moved without much difficulty.
Usage pattern:
[something] is mobile
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'mobile' with 'cell phone' when describing something that can move; context is important.
Synonyms
movable (More formal and often used for physical objects that can be relocated.)
Antonyms
stationary (Describes something fixed in one place and not moving.)
Collocations
mobile device
|mobile unit
|mobile home
|mobile workforce
|mobile app
Themes
daily life
|technology
|transport
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The mobile clinic travels to rural areas every week.
- As a journalist, she needs to be mobile and ready to travel at a moment's notice.
- This equipment is mobile and can be set up anywhere in the building.
Learner examples
- The table is mobile.
- My phone is mobile.
- The bed is mobile so we can move it.
Noun
A1
entity
2
Portable wireless telephone
A phone you can carry and use without wires.
Usage pattern:
to use [someone's] mobile
Common mistake:
Learners from North America may not recognize 'mobile' as meaning 'cell phone'; regional usage varies.
Synonyms
cell phone (Common in American English; same meaning.)
Antonyms
landline (A telephone connected by wires, fixed in one place.)
Collocations
mobile phone
|mobile network
|mobile signal
|mobile plan
Themes
technology
|communication
Examples
- She left her mobile at home and missed the call.
- The new mobile has a better camera than my old one.
- In some areas, the mobile signal is very weak.
Learner examples
- I have a new mobile.
- My mobile is on the table.
- He uses his mobile to call his mother.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Hanging decoration that moves in air
A decoration that hangs and moves in the air.
Synonyms
hanging sculpture (More formal/artistic term often used in galleries.)
Collocations
baby mobile
|colorful mobile
|hanging mobile
Themes
art
|home
|housing
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The baby lay in the crib watching the colorful mobile spin slowly.
- She bought a handmade mobile at the craft fair.
- The art gallery displayed a large metal mobile by the entrance.
Learner examples
- The baby likes the mobile.
- There is a mobile above the bed.
- I made a paper mobile.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mobile
IPA
GB/mˈoʊbəl/
US/mˈoʊbəl/
Syllables & stress
mo - bile (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mo)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: mobile
Noun
- Base: mobile
- Plural: mobiles
Word family
Forms
mobiles
noun
Core family
mobility
noun B1
Related words
mobilize
verb B2
Negative and opposite forms
immobile
adjective
immobility
noun
Advanced or less common
mobilization
noun B2
immobilize
verb
Expressions
mobile home
1/mˈoʊbəl hˈoʊm/
fixed phrase
Transportable prefabricated house
A house that can be moved to another place, usually built in a factory.
Examples
- They live in a mobile home near the lake.
- Buying a mobile home was cheaper than renting an apartment.
mobile network
1/mˈoʊbəl nˈɛtwˌɚk/
fixed phrase
technical
Wireless system for portable devices
The system that lets your phone make calls and go online without wires.
Examples
- The mobile network was down after the storm.
- My mobile network offers good coverage in rural areas.
mobile app
1/mˈoʊbəl ˈæp/
fixed phrase
Software for portable devices
A computer program you use on your phone or tablet.
Examples
- I downloaded a new mobile app for tracking my workouts.
- The company launched a new mobile app for online banking.
- This mobile app helps you learn new languages.
- Our service is available on the web and through a mobile app.