volatile Definition
- 1liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse
- 2evaporating readily at normal temperatures and pressures
- 3liable to lead to sudden change or violence
Using volatile: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "volatile" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The stock market can be quite volatile.
Example
She had a volatile temper and would often lash out at others.
Example
Gasoline is a volatile substance that should be handled with care.
Example
The political situation in the country is becoming increasingly volatile.
volatile Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for volatile
Idioms Using volatile
Example
He always liked to walk on the volatile side, taking risks and living life to the fullest.
Example
His comments about the controversial issue were enough to light the volatile fuse and start a heated argument.
Example
She was as volatile as a cat on a hot tin roof, unable to sit still or relax for even a moment.
Phrases with volatile
a relationship that is characterized by frequent and unpredictable changes in mood or behavior
Example
Their volatile relationship was marked by intense arguments followed by passionate reconciliations.
computer memory that requires power to maintain stored data, and loses its contents when the power is turned off
Example
RAM is an example of volatile memory.
an organic chemical compound that has a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature
Example
Paints and solvents often contain volatile organic compounds.
Origins of volatile
from Latin 'volatilis', meaning 'fleeting'
Summary: volatile in Brief
The term 'volatile' [ˈvɒlətaɪl] refers to something that is liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, often for the worse. It can describe a person's mood or behavior, as in 'She had a volatile temper,' or a substance that evaporates easily, like gasoline. Phrases like 'volatile relationship' and idioms like 'walk on the volatile side' suggest risk and unpredictability.
