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.
South Korea is "capable of taking primary responsibility" for the task, it adds.
From BBC
Some of these prehistoric species are thought to have weighed up to 250 kilograms, yet a study published in Scientific Reports indicates they may have been capable of hopping in short bursts.
From Science Daily
In a process known as “cognitive offloading,” we might become less capable of doing the stuff our AI can handle.
It’s fine to demonstrate you’re “very capable,” but you also want to be able to show that you’re “really able to work with others and you want to win together with others.”
From MarketWatch
But, a study I came upon shows the downside: Sometimes, individuals who have good financial habits accommodate their less financially capable spouse.
From MarketWatch
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.
