capable

American  

[key-puh-buhl] / ˈkeɪ pə bəl /

adjective

1. having power and ability; efficient; competent.

   a capable instructor.

   Synonyms:

   accomplished, ingenious, skillful

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idioms

1. capable of,

   1. having the ability or capacity for.

      a man capable of judging art.

   2. open to the influence or effect of; susceptible of.

      a situation capable of improvement.

   3. predisposed to; inclined to.

      capable of murder.

capable British  

/ ˈkeɪpəbəl /

adjective

1. having ability, esp in many different fields; competent

2. able or having the skill (to do something)

   she is capable of hard work

3. having the temperament or inclination (to do something)

   he seemed capable of murder

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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

Explanation

To be capable of something is to be able to do it, like your little brother who is perfectly capable of tying his own shoes, but likes having everyone else do it for him. When people are capable, they can handle whatever task is at hand, like a capable teacher who can explain difficult concepts and make it fun. You may also have heard that someone "isn't capable" of, say, committing a crime or hurting someone's feelings. In this case, not being capable is a compliment — it means you just won't let yourself do something to violate your own standards for behavior.

Example Sentences

The findings suggest that organic-rich shale may be capable of hosting lithium in ways that were not previously recognized.

From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2026

Tesla shares were rising sharply on Wednesday after CEO Elon Musk revealed progress on the company’s work to deliver a next-generation chip capable of powering humanoid robots.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

“I don’t know how much more capable I am at this point, because I’ve literally not lived a life for six years.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

But as crews venture further afield to the moon and Mars, medical evacuation would not be an option and astronauts would need to have broader medical skills and be surgically capable.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

What Seven did know was that she had never given up on anything before—that she was smart, she was capable, and, no matter what was thrown her way, Seven was ready.

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

Related Words

• able
• accomplished
• adept
• adequate
• competent
• efficient
• experienced
• gifted
• good
• intelligent
• proficient
• qualified
• skillful
• suited
• talented