able

1 of 2

adjective

1
a
: having sufficient power, skill, or resources to do something
able to solve a problem
b
: having the freedom or opportunity to do something
hopes to be able to visit soon
c
: having a quality or nature that makes something possible
a car able to hold five people
: susceptible to some action or treatment
a shoe able to be repaired
2
abler ˈā-b(ə-)lər How to pronounce able (audio) ;ablest ˈā-b(ə-)ləst How to pronounce able (audio) : marked by intelligence, knowledge, skill, or competence
an able administrator

-able

2 of 2

adjective suffix

variants or less commonly -ible
1
: capable of, fit for, or worthy of (being so acted upon or toward)
chiefly in adjectives derived from verbs
breakable
collectible
2
: tending, given, or liable to
agreeable
perishable
-ably adverb suffix
or less commonly -ibly

Examples of able in a Sentence

Adjective He will buy a new car as soon as he is able. He turned out to be an able editor. She is one of the ablest lawyers in the firm.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
For an hour or two, maybe, a person might have been able to see their own face reflected there, until that too was vaporized. Rebecca Giggs, The New York Review of Books, 30 Nov. 2023 This can be particularly true for remote workers—more common in scale-up businesses that haven't been able to or wanted to invest in traditional office space—who can have the chance to gain knowledge from more experienced employees in the partner business. Lis Anderson, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 Both the Japanese and U.S. militaries will likely want to be able to continue using them in the highly strategic corner of the western Pacific. Elizabeth Palmer, CBS News, 30 Nov. 2023 The teacher might be able to ease some of her concerns about school by engaging with her more in the classroom. Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2023 In local markets, artist relations and marketing campaign managers will be able to tap into those global teams for analytics, content creation and media planning and buying, the company said. Dan Rys, Billboard, 30 Nov. 2023 Jamie Bennett, a spokesperson for Novo Nordisk, said that the company has not been able to confirm any adverse events related to either Wells Pharmacy’s or Brooksville Pharmaceuticals’ products. Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 30 Nov. 2023 Guests will be able to partake in labyrinth walking, sensory foot reflexology, and candlelight yoga, for example. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023 Fountain, who is 25 weeks pregnant, hadn’t been able to bring herself to start thinking about it. Bracey Harris, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'able.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English able, abill, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin habilis "easily handled or adjusted, adaptable," from habēre "to have, hold" + -ilis, alteration (by haplology before labial consonants) of -ibilis -ible — more at give entry 1

Adjective suffix

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French and Middle French, going back to Latin -ābilis, -ibilis, from -ā-, -i- (thematic vowels of various conjugations of verbs) + -bilis "capable (of acting) or worthy of (being acted upon)," going back to pre-Latin *-dhl-is, adjective suffix formed from the instrumental noun suffix *-dhl-om (whence Latin -bulum)

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of able was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near able

Cite this Entry

“Able.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/able. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

able

1 of 2 adjective
abler -b(ə-)lər How to pronounce able (audio) ; ablest -b(ə-)ləst How to pronounce able (audio)
1
a
: having enough power, skill, or resources to do something
able to swim
b
: not prevented
able to vote
2

-able

2 of 2 adjective suffix
variants also -ible
ə-bəl
1
: capable of, fit for, or worthy of being
collectible
2
: tending, given, or likely to
perishable
agreeable
Etymology

Adjective

Middle English able "able," from early French able (same meaning), from Latin habilis "easily managed, skillful," from habēre "to have"

Adjective suffix

derived from Latin -abilis, -ibilis "-able"

Legal Definition

able

adjective
1
: possessed of needed powers or of needed resources to accomplish an objective
able to perform under the contract
2
: having freedom from restriction or obligation or from conditions preventing an action
able to vote
3
: legally qualified : possessed of legal competence
able to inherit property

More from Merriam-Webster on able

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