capacity

The word “capacity” means the greatest amount that something can hold, contain, or produce. In plain terms, how much something can hold or produce, or how well someone can do something.

“Capacity” is pronounced kuh-PAS-ih-tee (/kəˈpæs.ɪ.ti/ in IPA).

Here is “capacity” used in a sentence: “The stadium has a seating capacity of sixty thousand.”

“Capacity” is a noun.

The word “capacity” comes from Latin. From Latin capacitas, from capax ("able to hold much"), from capere ("to take, hold, seize") — the same root behind "capable" and "capture.".

“Capacity” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Capacity” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the greatest amount that something can hold, contain, or produce.

Volume is the amount of space something actually occupies or contains right now. Capacity is the maximum it could hold. A jug has a fixed capacity of one litre, but the volume of water in it changes as you pour. Capacity is the limit; volume is the current quantity.

Capacity has several senses. It can mean the most something can hold or produce, as with a stadium's capacity or a factory's output. It can mean mental or physical ability — the capacity to learn. It can also mean a role someone holds, as in 'acting in my capacity as chairman.'

It depends on what is being held or produced. Liquid capacity is measured in litres or gallons, a venue's capacity in the number of people or seats, a battery's in ampere-hours, and a factory's in units produced per period. In every case it expresses the maximum the thing can manage.

A lift rated for eight people, a fuel tank that holds fifty litres, or a theatre with two thousand seats all show capacity — the greatest amount each can take. Producing at full capacity means a factory is making as much as it possibly can with its current resources.