Vocabulary
Amicable: meaning and common combinations
Can you hear the light middle sounds in amicable?
Amicable is formal, which means it is common in careful writing and speech. It fits people who deal with each other in a calm and friendly way.
Can you use "amicable" yourself?
Listen to a recording, type what you hear, and check your answer.
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amicable AM-ih-kuh-bul
The short answer
Use amicable for friendly, peaceful relations or for an agreement reached without an argument. It is formal, so it is more common in careful speech and writing.
They've kept their relationship amicable since they argued.
Why it works: Their ties stay friendly even after they argue.
3 more examples
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Friendly ties
We've kept an amicable relationship since the dispute.
You can use it for ties that stay friendly.
Not this:We've kept an
amiablerelationship since the dispute. What changes: Amiable usually describes a pleasant person, so it does not fit ties between people. -
A calm talk
They've had an amicable discussion about the parking spaces.
A talk can be amicable even if no one argued before it.
Not this:They've had a
friendlydiscussion about the parking spaces. What changes: Friendly works too. Amicable sounds more formal and shows that the talk stays calm. -
A calm deal
The two clubs have reached an amicable agreement about the shared hall.
You can use it for a deal made in a calm and friendly way.
Not this:The two clubs have reached an
amiableagreement about the shared hall. What changes: Amiable usually describes a pleasant person, so it does not fit a deal.
Quick check
Which word best fits their deal?
A calm deal
The neighbors talk about a shared gate and settle it without a fight.
Answer: amicable
Show the answer
Answer: amicable
Amicable fits a deal made in a calm and friendly way. Amiable usually describes a pleasant person.
Read the full guide
Try the listening exerciseAt a housing meeting, two neighbors talk about their plans in a calm way. You want a careful word for their friendly talk, but its middle sounds pass fast. Amicable is that word.
When amicable fits
The problem: I know amicable means friendly, but I am not sure where it fits.
At a shared fence, two neighbors talk about a repair in a calm way. Choose amicable for their friendly talk. They may have argued before, but they do not need to. Look for goodwill and no fight.
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They've kept the talks amicable after the complaint.
Why it works: You can use it when a hard talk stays calm.
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They've reached an amicable agreement about the gate.
Why it works: You can use it for a deal made in peace.
Your turn
Which phrase best describes their deal?
A calm deal
Two clubs end a hard talk without a fight. Which phrase best describes their deal?
Answer: They've reached an amicable agreement
Show the answer
Answer: They've reached an amicable agreement
Amicable describes a deal made in a calm and friendly way.
Catch the middle sounds
The problem: I can read amicable, but I lose its light middle sounds when people say it.
On a busy call, listen for AM at the start. Cambridge gives AM-ih-kuh-bul in four parts. The first is strong. The last two are light. The UK and US entries match.
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It's an amicable result for both sides.
Why it works: Listen for AM before the light ih-kuh-bul ending.
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The meeting's stayed amicable since lunch.
Why it works: The light middle sounds follow the strong opening.
Your turn
Which sentence has the word you hear?
Hearing AM-ih-kuh-bul
You hear AM-ih-kuh-bul. Which sentence has that word?
Answer: It's amicable
Show the answer
Answer: It's amicable
Amicable starts with AM and ends ih-kuh-bul. Amiable starts AY-mee.
Amicable or amiable?
The problem: I use amicable for any friendly person, even when amiable fits better.
At lunch, your new manager smiles and speaks warmly. You need a word for the person's manner, so choose the closer form for a pleasant person.
You choose this for someone with a pleasant manner.
She's an amiable team leader.
You choose this for friendly ties or a calm deal.
They've built an amicable relationship.
-
Not this:
She's an amicable team leader.Say: She's an amiable team leader.
You mean the person is pleasant. Amiable is the closer choice; amicable points more often to a relation or agreement.
Your turn
Mia is pleasant and friendly. Which sentence describes her?
Describing Mia
Mia is pleasant and friendly. Which sentence describes her?
Answer: She's amiable
Show the answer
Answer: She's amiable
Amiable fits a pleasant person. The person clue makes it different from amicable.
Before you go
Question 1 of 4
Which phrase fits a settlement reached without a fight?
A calm negotiation
Answer: They've reached an amicable settlement
Show the answer
Answer: They've reached an amicable settlement
A calm settlement can be described as amicable.
Question 2 of 4
Type the adjective you hear after "things".
During a calm discussion
Answer: They've kept things amicable throughout the discussion.
Show the answer
Answer: amicable
The AM start and light middle sounds point to amicable.
Question 3 of 4
Mia's pleasant and friendly. Which adjective describes her?
Describing Mia
Answer: She's amiable
Show the answer
Answer: She's amiable
Amiable is the closer adjective for Mia's manner; amicable points to a relation or agreement.
Question 4 of 4 · One new sentence
Which sentence best describes their deal?
A repair discussion
The repair discussion was tense at first, but both sides finished it politely.
Answer: They've reached an amicable agreement
Show the answer
Answer: They've reached an amicable agreement
Both sides reached the deal in a calm way, so amicable fits.
Remember this
Use amicable in careful speech and writing. It can describe friendly ties or a calm deal. Listen for AM-ih-kuh-bul; use amiable for a pleasant person.
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Listen to a new clip and write what you hear. You can replay it, but hints stay off and the transcript opens after you check your answer.
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Listening 1 of 2
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People leaving a meeting
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Neighbors discuss a fence
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Save my progressQuestions about "Amicable: meaning and common combinations"
Does amicable mean that two people are close friends?
No. Amicable can describe relations or dealings that are civil and peaceful even when the people are not close friends. It points to how they treat each other, not how close they are.
The former business partners kept their dealings amicable at industry events.
The rival clubs maintained amicable relations off the field.
Does amicable require an earlier argument or problem?
No. Amicable can describe a relation, discussion, or agreement that is friendly and peaceful. The word can fit even when no disagreement came first.
Their first meeting was amicable from start to finish.
The neighbors had an amicable chat when they first met.
What is the difference between amicable and amiable?
Amiable usually describes a person who is friendly and pleasant. Amicable usually describes relations or interactions that are civil or peaceful.
Our amiable guide greeted everyone with a smile.
The guide and driver reached an amicable agreement about the route.
Is amicable a formal word?
Yes. Cambridge Learner's Dictionary labels amicable as formal. In casual speech, friendly, calm, or peaceful may sound more natural, depending on the meaning.
The report said that both sides had reached an amicable settlement.
In a casual chat, Lena said the meeting stayed calm.
How is amicably different from amicable?
Amicable is an adjective, so it describes a noun such as agreement or relationship. Amicably is an adverb, so it tells how people settled, spoke, or parted.
The committee reached an amicable agreement on the schedule.
The committee settled the issue amicably.
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