-
Trending Now:
More Trending:
- non sequitur admiral's mast calumny kakistocracy bona fide
- ALL
Definition of able
1a : having sufficient power, skill, or resources to do something able to solve a problemb : having the freedom or opportunity to do something hopes to be able to visit soonc : 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 ablerplay \-b(ə-)lər\; ablestplay \-b(ə-)ləst\ : marked by intelligence, knowledge, skill, or competence an able administrator
Explore M-W
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
-
The Building Safety Engineering and Environmental Department would also be able to impose additional dust control requirements.
-
To work, however, surgeons need to be able to precisely map the area being operated on before the surgery.
-
If necessary, shoppers will be able to use the Metra lot after hours, officials said.
-
For about a decade, the tax abatements and legal loopholes that Trump was able to finesse came about, in large part, because of Cohn.
-
The driver of the car was not seriously hurt and was able to get out of the car by himself, according to Mike Jachles, spokesman for Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue.
-
Many design centers offer hourly decorating and shopping services that can assist you; some fabric shops, workrooms and websites may be able to place an order for you as well.
-
But in a subsequent tweet, Musk said Tesla should be able make 20,000 Model 3s per month starting in December.
-
Kamariya had kept her awake, and neither of them had been able to sleep.
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.
-able
-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 suffixOrigin 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
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
playDefinition 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
-able
-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 adorablyLaw Dictionary
able
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
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up able? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!