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ability

[ uh-bil-i-tee ]
/ əˈbɪl ɪ ti /
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See synonyms for: ability / abilities on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural a·bil·i·ties.

power or capacity to do or act physically, mentally, legally, morally, financially, etc.
competence in an activity or occupation because of one's skill, training, or other qualification: the ability to sing well.
abilities, talents; special skills or aptitudes: Composing music is beyond his abilities.

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Origin of ability

1350–1400; Middle English (h)abilite<Middle French <Latin habilitās aptitude, equivalent to habili(s) handy (see able) + -tās-ty2; replacing Middle English ablete<Old French <Latin, as above

synonym study for ability

2. Ability, faculty, talent denote qualifications or powers. Ability is a general word for power, native or acquired, enabling one to do things well: a person of great ability; ability in mathematics. Faculty denotes a natural ability for a particular kind of action: a faculty of saying what he means. Talent is often used to mean a native ability or aptitude in a special field: a talent for music or art.

OTHER WORDS FROM ability

sub·a·bil·i·ty, noun, plural sub·a·bil·i·ties.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ability

ability , capacity

Definition for ability (2 of 2)

-ability

a combination of -able and -ity, found on nouns corresponding to adjectives ending in -able: capability.

Origin of -ability

Middle English -abilite, from French -abilité, from Latin -ābilitās (inflectional stem -ābilitāt- )
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to ability

strength, capacity, intelligence, understanding, capability, qualification, talent, skill, competence, proficiency, ingenuity, expertise, competency, aptitude, facility, dexterity, might, resourcefulness, comprehension, potentiality

Example sentences from the Web for ability

British Dictionary definitions for ability

ability
/ (əˈbɪlɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

possession of the qualities required to do something; necessary skill, competence, or powerthe ability to cope with a problem
considerable proficiency; natural capabilitya man of ability
(plural) special talents

Word Origin for ability

C14: from Old French from Latin habilitās aptitude, handiness, from habilis able
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
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