renewable
renewable — adjective
1. describes sources of energy such as sunlight or wind that nature replaces at the
describes sources of energy such as sunlight or wind that nature replaces at the same speed people use them, so they never run out.
The island now gets most of its electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar.
collocation: renewable sources
Tanvi's company invested in renewable energy to shrink its carbon footprint.
collocation: renewable energy
Unlike coal, renewable resources such as sunlight will never run out.
Many governments offer tax breaks for homes that switch to renewable power.
Soraya thinks every new public building should run on renewable heat systems.
- sustainable
broader — includes social and economic longevity, not only natural replenishment
- clean
focuses on low pollution rather than replenishment; not all clean energy is renewable
- green
informal and broader — describes any environmentally friendly practice
- inexhaustible
stronger — suggests supply cannot be used up; used only for truly limitless sources like sunlight
- non-renewable
direct opposite — sources that exist in fixed amounts and will eventually run out
- finite
emphasises limited quantity rather than the inability to replenish
- fossil-fuel-based
specific to energy context — describes coal, oil, and natural gas
用法筆記
Subject is almost always energy, power, resources, or sources of energy. Do not use this sense for objects that can be renewed by human effort (e.g., a library book or a passport) — that belongs to sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. describes an official document or agreement that can be extended to stay valid f
describes an official document or agreement that can be extended to stay valid for another period after it expires.
Jude applied for a renewable work visa that lasts two years.
collocation: renewable visa
The rental contract is renewable every twelve months if both parties agree.
collocation: renewable contract / lease
Nadia's driver's license is renewable online without a trip to the office.
Karim signed a renewable one-year lease with the landlord downtown.
Unlike permanent residency, this permit is renewable only twice in a lifetime.
- extendable
more common in everyday usage; often interchangeable with renewable for documents
- prolongable
very formal; emphasises making something last longer in time
- continuable
rare; focuses on the ability to continue without interruption
- non-renewable
also used for documents — means the document expires permanently and cannot be extended
- fixed-term
describes an agreement that ends on a set date with no extension option
- non-extendable
explicitly states that no extension is allowed
用法筆記
Subject is always an official or legal document (visa, licence, permit, contract, lease, subscription). Frequently used in passive constructions: 'this visa is renewable for up to five years.' Not used for energy or natural resources.