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Synonyms

capable

American  
[key-puh-buhl] / ˈkeɪ pə bəl /

adjective

  1. having power and ability; efficient; competent.

    a capable instructor.

    Synonyms:
    accomplished, ingenious, skillful

idioms

  1. capable of,

    1. having the ability or capacity for.

      a man capable of judging art.

    2. open to the influence or effect of; susceptible of.

      a situation capable of improvement.

    3. predisposed to; inclined to.

      capable of murder.

capable British  
/ ˈkeɪpəbəl /

adjective

  1. having ability, esp in many different fields; competent

  2. able or having the skill (to do something)

    she is capable of hard work

  3. having the temperament or inclination (to do something)

    he seemed capable of murder

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See able.

Other Word Forms

  • capableness noun
  • capably adverb
  • overcapable adjective
  • quasi-capable adjective
  • quasi-capably adverb
  • supercapable adjective
  • supercapableness noun
  • supercapably adverb

Etymology

Origin of capable

First recorded in 1555–65; from Late Latin capābilis “intelligent, understandable,” apparently equivalent to cap(āx) “competent, fit, roomy” ( capacity ) + -ābilis able

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.

And this is before the next generation of AI models — more capable, multimodal and tightly integrated into enterprise workflows — enters the mainstream.

From MarketWatch

Chelsea, of course, would say Rosenior isn't a puppet and they have simply hired an outstanding candidate capable of taking the club forward.

From BBC

They still produce oil, but are no longer capable of driving sustained growth.

From Barron's

They still produce oil, but are no longer capable of driving sustained growth.

From Barron's

He had turned the ship around and could have handed the reins to a more meticulous leader capable of taking England to the next level.

From BBC