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
Synonym Usage
See able.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of capable
First recorded in 1555–65; from Late Latin capābilis “intelligent, understandable,” apparently equivalent to cap(āx) “competent, fit, roomy” ( see 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.
Vocabulary lists containing capable
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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.
Some of the universe's dead stars may be capable of growing far more massive than a famous limit in physics was thought to allow.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026
Researchers could also develop materials capable of controlling magnetic behavior, manipulating light, or influencing chemical reactions with greater precision.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2026
Founder Bob James said he was pleased to see the business move to what he described as "a long-term home", capable of supporting AerFin's next phase of expansion.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
Investigators probing Sunday’s deadly crash are trying to learn what led the pilots to fly into a dangerous thunderstorm capable of ice, hail and turbulence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
Ships were now capable of traveling farther than ever.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
