able
AY-bl
Able (adj) means having the power, skill, resources, or opportunity to do something. Example: “Will you be able to attend the meeting on Friday?”
adj
1
Having the power, skill, resources, or opportunity to do something.
"Will you be able to attend the meeting on Friday?"
"After months of practice, she was finally able to run a marathon."
"I hope you will be able to join us for dinner tonight."
2
Skilled or competent.
"He's a very able manager who keeps the whole team on track."
"She is an able teacher whom the pupils respect and trust."
"The company hired two able engineers to lead the project."
How to use able
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCapable of doing something — either because of circumstances ("able to leave early") or because you're skilled ("an able writer").
Common pairings
able to
a very able assistant
more than able
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Word forms
- Comparative
- abler
- Superlative
- ablest
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Will you be _____ to attend the meeting on Friday?
Etymology
From Old French able/habile, from Latin habilis, "easily handled, fit, skillful," from habere ("to have, hold").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for able
See all rhymes for able →Frequently asked questions
What does “able” mean?
The word “able” means having the power, skill, resources, or opportunity to do something. In plain terms, capable of doing something — either because of circumstances ("able to leave early") or because you're skilled ("an able writer").
How do you pronounce “able”?
“Able” is pronounced AY-bl (/ˈeɪ.bl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “able” in a sentence?
Here is “able” used in a sentence: “Will you be able to attend the meeting on Friday?”
What part of speech is “able”?
“Able” is an adjective.
Where does the word “able” come from?
The word “able” comes from Latin. From Old French able/habile, from Latin habilis, "easily handled, fit, skillful," from habere ("to have, hold").
Is “able” a common word?
“Able” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “able” have?
“Able” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having the power, skill, resources, or opportunity to do something.
What is the difference between "able" and "capable"?
The two are close, but "able" stresses actually having the power or means to do something now, while "capable" stresses the underlying potential or fitness to do it. You are "able to lift the box" if you can right now; you are "capable of great kindness" as a lasting quality.
What is the difference between "able" and "can"?
They express the same idea of ability but work differently in grammar. "Can" is a helping verb followed by another verb: "I can swim." "Able" is an adjective, usually in the phrase "able to": "I am able to swim." "Able to" is also handier for tenses "can" lacks, like "will be able to."
What is the opposite of "able"?
The direct opposite is "unable," meaning lacking the power, skill, or means to do something. Related opposites include "incapable," "powerless," and "incompetent," though these carry stronger or more specific shades. "Unable" simply denies the ability, as in "unable to attend," without judging the person's general competence.
What is an example of "able"?
"She is able to speak three languages" shows skill. "We are able to help you today" shows opportunity or resources. "He was barely able to lift it" shows physical power. In each case, "able" reports that the person has what it takes to do the thing named.
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