capable
Americanadjective
idioms
adjective
-
having ability, esp in many different fields; competent
-
able or having the skill (to do something)
she is capable of hard work
-
having the temperament or inclination (to do something)
he seemed capable of murder
Synonym Usage
See able.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of capable
First recorded in 1555–65; from Late Latin capābilis “intelligent, understandable,” apparently equivalent to cap(āx) “competent, fit, roomy” ( see capacity) + -ābilis able
Explanation
To be capable of something is to be able to do it, like your little brother who is perfectly capable of tying his own shoes, but likes having everyone else do it for him. When people are capable, they can handle whatever task is at hand, like a capable teacher who can explain difficult concepts and make it fun. You may also have heard that someone "isn't capable" of, say, committing a crime or hurting someone's feelings. In this case, not being capable is a compliment — it means you just won't let yourself do something to violate your own standards for behavior.
Vocabulary lists containing capable
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Their deepest fear is that humans could eventually lose control of increasingly capable AI systems altogether.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026
“What is the system, what is it capable of, and how could it be set up in a way that’s supposedly safe?”
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026
The team also examined an FDA-approved antipsychotic drug that is capable of increasing PP2A activity.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026
At present, there are 225 hydropower plants across Nepal with more than 3,900MW of installed capacity, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority - capable of powering some three million households simultaneously.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
Even if he wasn’t, the young Belgian was clearly capable of trouble, and Apollinaire got nervous: he gave Pieret money and sent him out of town.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
