able

adjective \ ˈā-bəl \

Definition of able

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 play \-b(ə-)lər\; ablest play \-b(ə-)ləst\ :marked by intelligence, knowledge, skill, or competence

an able administrator

—

ably

play \ˈā-b(ə-)lē\ adverb

- a task performed ably

See able defined for English-language learners

See able defined for kids

Examples of able in a Sentence

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 of able from the Web

For example, some have suggested insurers be required to provide policies in the marketplaces as a condition of being able to offer coverage to federal workers.

— julie rovner, Kaiser Health News, "5 Outside-The-Box Ideas For Fixing The Individual Insurance Market," 30 Aug. 2017
Sargent said around $2,300 was raised through advance ticket sales the past couple weekends at local grocery stores, down slightly from previous years because the Kiwanians were not able to sell in front of the RB Vons that is being remodeled.

— elizabeth marie himchak, Rancho Bernardo, "Kiwanians to hold 49th annual pancake breakfast on Saturday," 30 Aug. 2017
Tahnee Lightfoot, a spokeswoman with the police, said officers were able to smell marijuana coming from the car after contacting the driver.

— andy nguyen, Glendale News-Press, "Four arrested in La Crescenta on suspicion of burglary," 29 Aug. 2017
Please contact Able at john.able@ct.gov to register or for additional information.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Wethersfield Edition," 29 Aug. 2017
Intensity can be even harder to predict than storm paths, and here NASA may be able to help.

— paul voosen, Science | AAAS, "Hurricane Harvey provides lab for U.S. forecast experiments," 28 Aug. 2017
But local authorities will be able to communicate with immigration agents and hold someone for immigration authorities if there's a valid criminal warrant, according to the new law.

— sophia tareen, Aurora Beacon-News, "Aurora mayor praises new state immigration bill: 'It is the right, just and fair thing to do'," 28 Aug. 2017
A noble death for one of the show’s best characters, and an instantly meme-able one, too.

— katey rich, HWD, "What Actually Happened on Game of Thrones This Season," 28 Aug. 2017
Phones aren’t going to work, Wi-Fi is going to go down, first responders are not going to be able to get to people for quite some time.

— simon worrall, National Geographic, "Earthquakes Can Happen in More Places Than You Think," 26 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'able.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of able

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 ¹give

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First Known Use: 14th century

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able Synonyms

Synonyms

competent, capable, equal, fit, good, qualified, suitable

Antonyms

incompetent, inept, poor, unfit, unfitted, unqualified

Related Words

accomplished, ace, adept, experienced, expert, master, masterful, masterly, practiced (also practised), proficient, seasoned, skilled, skillful, veteran; overqualified; prepared, schooled, trained; apt, ready, willing; all-around (also all-round), protean, versatile

Near Antonyms

inexperienced, inexpert, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful; unprepared, unschooled, untrained; beginning, green, new, raw, untested, untried

-able

adjective suffix

variants: or less commonly -ible

Definition of -able

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

or less commonly -ibly adverb suffix

Origin and Etymology of -able

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)

ABLE Defined for English Language Learners

-able

adjective suffix

Definition of -able for English Language Learners

: fit for or worthy of being
: likely to or capable of
: having a certain quality

ABLE Defined for Kids

able

adjective \ ˈā-bəl \

Definition of able for Students

abler \-blər\; ablest \-bləst\

1 :having enough power, resources, or skill to do something

Are you able to swim?

2 :having the freedom or opportunity to do something

I'll come when I'm able.

3 :having or showing much skill

an able dancer

Synonym Discussion of able

able and capable mean having the power to do or accomplish. able may be used for someone who has exceptional skill and has done well in the past.

- She is an able surgeon with years of experience.

capable is usually used to describe someone who has the characteristics suitable for a particular kind of work.

- The recruits soon proved to be capable soldiers.

-able

adjective suffix

variants: also -ible \ə-bəl\

Definition of -able for Students

1 :capable of, fit for, or worthy of being

lovable

flexible

2 :tending or likely to

changeable

—

-ably

also -ibly \ə-blē\ adverb suffix

adorably

Law Dictionary

able

adjective

legal Definition of able

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

Learn More about able

See words that rhyme with able Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for able Spanish Central: Translation of able Nglish: Translation of able for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of able for Arabic speakers

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Origin and Etymology of able

able Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

-able

Definition of -able

-ably

Origin and Etymology of -able

ABLE Defined for English Language Learners

-able

Definition of -able for English Language Learners

ABLE Defined for Kids

able

Definition of able for Students

Synonym Discussion of able

-able

Definition of -able for Students

-ably

Law Dictionary

able

legal Definition of able

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