opposable
adjective
op·pos·able
| \ ə-ˈpō-zə-bəl
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\
Definition of opposable
1
: capable of being opposed or resisted
2
: capable of being placed against one or more of the remaining digits of a hand or foot
the opposable human thumb
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Other Words from opposable
opposability
\ ə-ˌpō-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē
\
noun
\
noun
Examples of opposable in a Sentence
Humans have an opposable thumb.
Recent Examples on the Web
Then more sad and happy things happen — things that Enzo, with his gruff inner monologue and his non-opposable thumbs, can only share with the people sitting on the other side of this celluloid. — Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, "The Art of Racing in the Rain is earnest, floppy-eared family entertainment," 6 Aug. 2019 This allows you the use of your most helpful digits — your index finger and opposable thumbs — for as long as possible. — Jessica Ourisman, Good Housekeeping, "Everything You Need to Know About Static Nails," 24 July 2019 Spring in our step Primate feet evolved mostly to grasp while climbing, which is why chimpanzees have more flexible feet than humans and why their big toes are opposable, like our thumbs. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "The road to bipedalism wasn’t straight and narrow," 15 Aug. 2018 Unless her dog suddenly sprouted legs and opposable thumbs, then this entire sequence is fishier than, well, sushi. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "10 Things About the Sex and the City Movie That Are Ridiculous—Even By SATC Standards," 30 May 2018 With their opposable toes and flat feet, early human ancestors have often been portrayed as weird walkers, swaying from side to side or rolling off the outside edges of their feet. — Ann Gibbons, Science | AAAS, "Our tree-climbing human ancestors could walk upright like us, study of chimps and other primates shows," 2 Apr. 2018 But what makes Paddles truly special are her opposable thumbs. — Sarah Spellings, The Cut, "New Zealand’s ‘First Cat’ Has Opposable Thumbs and a Fan Base," 26 Oct. 2017 Its opposable thumb allows it to wield tools, flash symbols and now, type out texts. — Amanda Hess, New York Times, "The Hand Has Its Social Media Moment," 11 Oct. 2017 Yeah, let’s blow it up and give it opposable thumbs and boxing gloves. — Joan Niesen, SI.com, "The Top 10 Mascots in College Football, Ranked by Someone Terrified of Mascots," 3 Aug. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'opposable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for opposable
opposable
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of opposable
technical
: able to be placed against one or more of the other fingers or toes on the same hand or foot
See the full definition for opposable in the English Language Learners Dictionary
opposable
adjective
op·pos·able
| \ ə-ˈpō-zə-bəl
\
\
Medical Definition of opposable
: capable of being placed against one or more of the remaining digits of a hand or foot
an opposable thumb
Other Words from opposable
opposability
\ -ˌpō-zə-ˈbil-ət-ē
\
noun,
plural opposabilities
\
noun,
plural opposabilities