capable
adjective
ca·pa·ble
ˈkā-pə-bəl 
in rapid speech ˈkāp-bəl
1
: susceptible
a remark capable of being misunderstood
2
obsolete
: comprehensive
3
: having attributes (such as physical or mental power) required for performance or accomplishment
is capable of intense concentration
4
: having traits conducive to or features permitting something
this woman is capable of murder by violence—
Robert Graves
Robert Graves5
: having legal right to own, enjoy, or perform
of my land … to make thee capable—Shakespeare
Shakespeare6
: having or showing general efficiency and ability
a capable lawyer
a capable performance
Examples of capable in a Sentence
a capable and efficient editor
Recent Examples on the Web
An international team of scientists has developed an artificial intelligence capable of creating highly detailed data inside a fusion reactor, effectively acting as a virtual sensor.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Webb is the only telescope capable of capturing such detailed changes in the environment for such a faint object, Scholz said.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
The forwards deployed in front of him, either Patrik Schick or Victor Boniface, were drifting No 9s, each with No 10-style abilities, capable of combining with him in a range of situations.
—Andy Jones, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Florida State looks dangerous but volatile — capable of dropping 700 yards one week and losing in overtime the next.
—D’joumbarey A. Moreau, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for capable
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Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Webb is the only telescope capable of capturing such detailed changes in the environment for such a faint object, Scholz said.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
The forwards deployed in front of him, either Patrik Schick or Victor Boniface, were drifting No 9s, each with No 10-style abilities, capable of combining with him in a range of situations.
—Andy Jones, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Florida State looks dangerous but volatile — capable of dropping 700 yards one week and losing in overtime the next.
—D’joumbarey A. Moreau, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for capable
Cite this Entry
“Capable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capable. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
capable
adjective
ca·pa·ble
ˈkā-pə-bəl
1
: having the qualities (as physical or mental power) to do or accomplish something
you are capable of better work
2
: having qualities or features permitting
a new train capable of very high speeds
3
: able to do one's job well : generally efficient
tries to hire capable people
capability
noun
ˌkā-pə-ˈbil-ət-ē
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