capable
Americanadjective
idioms
adjective
-
having ability, esp in many different fields; competent
-
able or having the skill (to do something)
she is capable of hard work
-
having the temperament or inclination (to do something)
he seemed capable of murder
Related Words
See able.
Other Word Forms
- capableness noun
- capably adverb
- overcapable adjective
- quasi-capable adjective
- quasi-capably adverb
- supercapable adjective
- supercapableness noun
- supercapably adverb
Etymology
Origin of capable
First recorded in 1555–65; from Late Latin capābilis “intelligent, understandable,” apparently equivalent to cap(āx) “competent, fit, roomy” ( capacity ) + -ābilis 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.
But the engines are capable of recovering energy at 350kw, and do so when a driver has lifted off the throttle.
From BBC
He said Iran was working to build missiles that would "soon" be capable of reaching the US, without giving details.
From BBC
Nvidia has for years dominated the training market with its graphics processors, known as GPUs—powerful chips capable of performing billions of simple tasks simultaneously.
Party leaders view her as a communicator capable of reaching beyond the Democratic base at a time when cost‑of‑living pressures dominate public debate.
From Barron's
An electronic warfare unit capable of disrupting enemy communications and radar will be set up in fiscal year 2026, which runs from April to March next year.
From BBC
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.
