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  • ably
    ably
    adverb
    in an able manner; with skill or ability; competently.
  • -ably
    -ably
    a suffix combining -able and -ly that forms adverbs corresponding to adjectives ending in -able: commendably; dependably; tolerably .
Synonyms

ably

1 American  
[ey-blee] / ˈeɪ bli /

adverb

  1. in an able manner; with skill or ability; competently.

-ably 2 American  

  1. a suffix combining -able and -ly that forms adverbs corresponding to adjectives ending in -able: commendably; dependably; tolerably .

ably British  
/ ˈeɪblɪ /

adverb

  1. in a competent or skilful manner

"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

Etymology

Origin of ably

First recorded in 1350–1400, ably is from the Middle English word abelli. See able, -ly

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.

This festival's credo - "Life, liberty and the pursuit of rock!" -ably sums up its mission.

From New York Times • May 7, 2010

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.