Synonyms

unable

American

[uhn-ey-buhl] / ʌnˈeɪ bəl /

adjective

lacking the necessary power, competence, etc., to accomplish some specified act.

He was unable to swim.

unable British

/ ʌnˈeɪbəl /

adjective

lacking the necessary power, ability, or authority (to do something); not able
archaic incompetent

"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 incapable.

Etymology

Origin of unable

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; un- ¹ + 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.

Local authorities in Wuhan, Hubei province, began receiving calls "one after another" on Tuesday night about "multiple Apollo Go cars stopped in the middle of the road, unable to move", police said in a statement.

From Barron's

Beyond Meat said it is unable to file its annual report by the deadline because it needs more time to complete its fourth-quarter and year-end financial close procedures.

From The Wall Street Journal

Hegseth’s broker was unable to invest in the defense fund because the product was unavailable to Morgan Stanley clients.

From Salon

Athena ended up in a frigid crater and tipped over, leaving its solar batteries unable to charge.

From MarketWatch

The country has been hit by a series of nationwide blackouts, and most hospitals have been unable to operate normally, with severe rationing in place.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023