capable

[ key-puh-buhl ]
See synonyms for: capablecapablenesscapably on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. having power and ability; efficient; competent: a capable instructor.

Idioms about capable

  1. capable of,

    • having the ability or capacity for: a man capable of judging art.

    • open to the influence or effect of; susceptible of: a situation capable of improvement.

    • predisposed to; inclined to: capable of murder.

Origin of capable

1
First recorded in 1555–65; from Late Latin capābilis “intelligent, understandable,” apparently equivalent to cap(āx) “competent, fit, roomy” (see capacity) + -ābilis able

synonym study For capable

1. See able.

Other words for capable

Other words from capable

  • ca·pa·ble·ness, noun
  • ca·pa·bly, adverb
  • o·ver·ca·pa·ble, adjective
  • qua·si-ca·pa·ble, adjective
  • qua·si-ca·pa·bly, adverb
  • su·per·ca·pa·ble, adjective
  • su·per·ca·pa·ble·ness, noun
  • su·per·ca·pa·bly, adverb

Words Nearby capable

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use capable in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for capable

capable

/ (ˈkeɪpəbəl) /


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

  2. (postpositive foll by of) able or having the skill (to do something): she is capable of hard work

  1. (postpositive foll by of) having the temperament or inclination (to do something): he seemed capable of murder

Origin of capable

1
C16: from French, from Late Latin capābilis able to take in, from Latin capere to take

Derived forms of capable

  • capableness, noun
  • capably, adverb

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