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.

OTHER WORDS FOR ability

1 capability; proficiency, expertness, dexterity.

See synonyms for ability on Thesaurus.com

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"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

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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

Other definitions 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- )

How to use ability in a sentence

That article noted that the F-35 does not currently have the ability to down-link live video to ground troops,.
Pentagon Misfires in Stealth Jet Scandal|Dave Majumdar|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Speech, in this case, is our ability to spend money on a goofy entertainment.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Nor does the jet have the ability to capture high-definition video, utilize an infra-red pointer.
Pentagon Misfires in Stealth Jet Scandal|Dave Majumdar|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Police, their representatives and supporters tell us, ensure our freedom of speech through our ability to protest.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Her magical ability to shrink people just by staring at them is also put to great use here.
Marvel’s ‘Agent Carter’ Stomps on the Patriarchy|Melissa Leon|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Vain also was the valour and ability he showed in the campaign against the Royalists in La Vende.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
In disease, the amount of solids depends mainly upon the activity of metabolism and the ability of the kidneys to excrete.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
The ability to sustain the tone for a long time will increase, and with it the power of the muscles exercised.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
The presence of a large gold fund was an assurance of the ability to return to specie payments after the close of the war.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
Much has been said and written about the courage of the lion, and his ability to attack and kill any other animal.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne

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

ability

OTHER WORDS FOR ability

Origin of ability

synonym study for ability

OTHER WORDS FROM ability

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ability

Other definitions for ability (2 of 2)

Origin of -ability

Words related to ability

How to use ability in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ability

Word Origin for ability