able
[ ey-buhl ]
/ ˈeɪ bəl /
Save This Word!
adjective, a·bler, a·blest.
having necessary power, skill, resources, or qualifications; qualified: able to lift a two-hundred-pound weight; able to write music; able to travel widely; able to vote.
having unusual or superior intelligence, skill, etc.: an able leader.
showing talent, skill, or knowledge: an able speech.
legally empowered, qualified, or authorized.
noun
Usually Able . a code word formerly used in communications to represent the letter A.
OTHER WORDS FOR able
QUIZ
GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!
Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.
Question 1 of 9
Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?
Origin of able
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin habilis “handy,” equivalent to hab(ēre) “to have, hold” + -ilis adjective suffix; see -ile
synonym study for able
1. Able, capable, competent all mean possessing adequate power for doing something. Able implies power equal to effort required: able to finish in time. Capable implies power to meet or fulfill ordinary requirements: a capable worker. Competent suggests power to meet demands in a completely satisfactory manner: a competent nurse.
OTHER WORDS FROM able
o·ver·a·ble, adjectiveo·ver·a·b·ly, adverbOther definitions for able (2 of 2)
-able
a suffix meaning “capable of, susceptible of, fit for, tending to, given to,” associated in meaning with the word able, occurring in loanwords from Latin (laudable); used in English as a highly productive suffix to form adjectives by addition to stems of any origin (teachable; photographable).
Origin of -able
Middle English <Old French <Latin -ābilis, equivalent to -ā- final vowel of 1st conjugation v. stems + -bilis
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use able in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for able (1 of 2)
able
/ (ˈeɪbəl) /
adjective
(postpositive) having the necessary power, resources, skill, time, opportunity, etc, to do somethingable to swim
capable; competent; talentedan able teacher
law qualified, competent, or authorized to do some specific act
Word Origin for able
C14: ultimately from Latin habilis easy to hold, manageable, apt, from habēre to have, hold + -ilis -ile
British Dictionary definitions for able (2 of 2)
-able
suffix forming adjectives
capable of, suitable for, or deserving of (being acted upon as indicated)enjoyable; pitiable; readable; separable; washable
inclined to; given to; able to; causingcomfortable; reasonable; variable
Derived forms of -able
-ably, suffix forming adverbs-ability, suffix forming nounsWord Origin for -able
via Old French from Latin -ābilis, -ībilis, forms of -bilis, adjectival suffix
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