Reading Theme:
Resilience: Meaning, Examples, and How to Build It (3 meaning)
Meaning 1：ability to recover (resilience)
resilience
/rɪˈzɪliəns/
n.
The ability to become strong, happy, or successful again after a difficult situation or event.
ability to recover
➕
/əˈbɪləti tə rɪˈkʌvər/
n.
The capacity to bounce back and regain strength after facing hardship, trauma, or failure.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'resilire' (re- 'back' + salire 'to jump'), meaning 'to jump back'.
💡 Mnemonic
Re-silience: Re- (again) + silience (from salire 'jump') — like a spring that jumps back after being pressed.
📖 Example
The young athlete showed incredible resilience by returning to win the championship just one year after a major injury.
The young athlete showed incredible resilience by returning to win the championship just one year after a major injury.
🔗 Collocations
show resilience – to demonstrate the ability to recover from difficulties
build resilience – to develop the capacity to bounce back
emotional resilience – the ability to withstand emotional stress and recover
🔄 Synonyms
perseverance (n.) – continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties
toughness (n.) – the quality of being strong and able to endure hardship
grit (n.) – courage and resolve; strength of character
🚫 Antonyms
fragility (n.) – the quality of being easily broken or damaged
vulnerability (n.) – the state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed
🌱 Derivatives
resilient (adj.) – able to recover quickly from difficult conditions
resiliently (adv.) – in a manner that shows resilience
📖 Cultural Story
Originally a physics term describing materials that spring back, resilience entered psychology in the 1970s to describe human ability to recover from adversity. It is now widely used in business, sports, and personal development contexts.
Meaning 2：bounce back quickly (resilience)
resilience
/rɪˈzɪliəns/
n.
The ability to adapt to changes and difficult situations, and bounce back quickly.
bounce back quickly
➕
/baʊns bæk ˈkwɪkli/
n.
The ability to adjust to new conditions and recover rapidly from setbacks or changes.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
Moving to a new country requires a lot of resilience as you learn a new language and adapt to a different culture.
Moving to a new country requires a lot of resilience as you learn a new language and adapt to a different culture.
🔗 Collocations
resilience to change – the ability to adapt smoothly to changes
resilience in adversity – the capacity to stay strong during difficult times
resilient mindset – a mental attitude that embraces challenges and grows from them
🔄 Synonyms
adaptability (n.) – the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions
flexibility (n.) – the willingness to change or compromise
versatility (n.) – the ability to adapt to many different functions or activities
🚫 Antonyms
rigidity (n.) – the quality of being stiff and unyielding
inflexibility (n.) – unwillingness to change or adapt
🌱 Derivatives
resilient (adj.) – able to recover quickly from difficult conditions
resiliently (adv.) – in a manner that shows resilience
Meaning 3：elasticity (resilience)
resilience
/rɪˈzɪliəns/
n.
The ability of a substance or object to return to its original shape after being bent, stretched, or pressed.
elasticity
➕
/ˌiːlæˈstɪsəti/
n.
The physical property of a material to return to its original shape after being deformed by an external force.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The new running shoes have excellent cushioning and resilience, which protects your joints during long runs.
The new running shoes have excellent cushioning and resilience, which protects your joints during long runs.
🔗 Collocations
mechanical resilience – the property of a material to absorb energy and recover shape
resilience of rubber – the elastic quality of rubber to return to original form
material resilience – the ability of a substance to resist deformation and recover
🔄 Synonyms
elasticity (n.) – the ability of a material to stretch and return to its original shape
springiness (n.) – the quality of being springy or able to bounce back
flexibility (n.) – the ability to bend without breaking
🚫 Antonyms
brittleness (n.) – the tendency to break easily under stress
stiffness (n.) – the quality of being rigid and hard to bend
🌱 Derivatives
resilient (adj.) – able to recover quickly from difficult conditions
resiliently (adv.) – in a manner that shows resilience
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