unable

[uhn-ey-buh l]

See more synonyms for unable on Thesaurus.com

adjective

lacking the necessary power, competence, etc., to accomplish some specified act: He was unable to swim.

Origin of unable

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at un-¹, able

Synonyms

See more synonyms for unable on Thesaurus.com

See incapable.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for unable

Contemporary Examples

That man was Xavier Cortada, a gay man who wrote of his frustration that he and his partner of eight years were unable to marry.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails
Jackie Kucinich
January 9, 2015
Those opposing same-sex marriage are on their heels, and increasingly unwilling or unable to make a stand against it.
‘Only God’ Can Stop Gay Marriage
Tim Mak
January 6, 2015
But at this stage, he is either afraid or unable to get carried away by his thoughts.
The Lost Novel of Nobel-Winner José Saramago
Charles Shafaieh
January 5, 2015
Lee would stay up late, unable to sleep from the pains he had in his back.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile
Robert Ward
January 3, 2015
In the name of protecting passengers, however, tourists in Las Vegas are unable to take advantage of this service.
Why Do ‘Progressives’ Want to Ban Uber and AirBnB?
Adam Thierer, Christopher Koopman
December 30, 2014

Historical Examples

Still he reflected that he would be unable to get out, and in the morning he could go for the constable.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
That he was unable to do, even if it were true, which he doubted.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
All this had happened so quickly that Will was unable to hinder it.
The Raid From Beausejour; And How The Carter Boys Lifted The Mortgage
Charles G. D. Roberts
"Then come and dine here," said Dick, unable to refuse a neighbour hospitality.
Viviette
William J. Locke
She lay looking about her, unable for the moment to remember where she was.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus
Jessie Graham Flower

British Dictionary definitions for unable

unable

adjective

(postpositive foll by to) lacking the necessary power, ability, or authority (to do something); not able
archaic incompetent

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unable

adj.

late 14c., "lacking in ability, incapable," from un- (1) "not" + able. Modeled on Old French inhabile or Latin inhabilis.

unable

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}unable

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for unable

Contemporary Examples

That man was Xavier Cortada, a gay man who wrote of his frustration that he and his partner of eight years were unable to marry.

Those opposing same-sex marriage are on their heels, and increasingly unwilling or unable to make a stand against it.

But at this stage, he is either afraid or unable to get carried away by his thoughts.

Lee would stay up late, unable to sleep from the pains he had in his back.

In the name of protecting passengers, however, tourists in Las Vegas are unable to take advantage of this service.

Historical Examples

Still he reflected that he would be unable to get out, and in the morning he could go for the constable.

That he was unable to do, even if it were true, which he doubted.

All this had happened so quickly that Will was unable to hinder it.

"Then come and dine here," said Dick, unable to refuse a neighbour hospitality.

She lay looking about her, unable for the moment to remember where she was.

unable

Word Origin and History for unable

adj.

Origin of unable