capacity

American  

[kuh-pas-i-tee] / kəˈpæs ɪ ti /

noun

plural

capacities

1. the ability to receive or contain.

   This hotel has a large capacity.

2. the maximum amount or number that can be received or contained; cubic contents; volume.

   The inn is filled to capacity.

   The gasoline tank has a capacity of 20 gallons.

   Synonyms:

   amplitude

3. power of receiving impressions, knowledge, etc.; mental ability.

   the capacity to learn calculus.

   Synonyms:

   talent, endowment

4. actual or potential ability to perform, yield, or withstand.

   He has a capacity for hard work.

   The capacity of the oil well was 150 barrels a day.

   She has the capacity to go two days without sleep.

   Synonyms:

   capability, competence, adequacy, aptitude

5. quality or state of being susceptible to a given treatment or action.

   Steel has a high capacity to withstand pressure.

6. position; function; role.

   He served in the capacity of legal adviser.

7. legal qualification.

8. Electricity.

   1. capacitance.

   2. maximum possible output.

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adjective

1. reaching maximum capacity.

   a capacity audience;

   a capacity crowd.

capacity British  

/ kəˈpæsɪtɪ /

noun

1. the ability or power to contain, absorb, or hold

2. the amount that can be contained; volume

   a capacity of six gallons

3. 1. the maximum amount something can contain or absorb (esp in the phrase filled to capacity )

   2. ( as modifier )

      a capacity crowd

4. the ability to understand or learn; aptitude; capability

   he has a great capacity for Greek

5. the ability to do or produce (often in the phrase at capacity )

   the factory's output was not at capacity

6. a specified position or function

   he was employed in the capacity of manager

7. a measure of the electrical output of a piece of apparatus such as a motor, generator, or accumulator

8. electronics a former name for capacitance

9. computing

   1. the number of words or characters that can be stored in a particular storage device

   2. the range of numbers that can be processed in a register

10. the bit rate that a communication channel or other system can carry

11. legal competence

    the capacity to make a will

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Etymology

Origin of capacity

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English capacite, capasite, from Middle French, from Latin capācitāt-, stem of capācitās “ability, understanding,” equivalent to capāci- (stem of capāx “confident, fit, roomy,” equivalent to cap(ere) “to take, seize” + -āx, adjective suffix) + -tās -ty ²

Example Sentences

But the water treatment works close to Universal's planned site in Bedfordshire is already at capacity, and there are warnings that upgrade plans will need to be "sped through".

From BBC

Amid surging demand for AI chips, the company earlier this month said it would build a $13 billion chip packaging plant in South Korea by the end of 2027 to expand its output capacity.

From The Wall Street Journal

“This is reflected in a marked step-up in their medium-term capacity plans and in our record order intake.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Anderson City Manager Joey Forseth-Deshais told The Times that Hale’s social media comments were “made in his capacity as a private citizen” and were “not associated with the City of Anderson at all.”

From Los Angeles Times

Increasing its cloud capacity is key for Microsoft, as the company can’t currently meet all is AI demand due to a shortage of graphics processing units.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• capability
• competence
• efficiency
• facility
• power
• readiness
• skill
• strength
• talent