ably
adverb
: in an able and skillful manner : with ability, skill, or proficiency
was ably assisted
This silly comic Christmas romp is ably performed by a cast of 22 actors, led by the high-spirited Danny McBride as the childlike Buddy.—
Matthew Yde
Matthew YdeLast year, she ably completed a half-marathon run with only minimal training.—Zachary Lewis
Zachary LewisExamples of ably in a Sentence
ably maneuvered the boat up to the dock
Recent Examples on the Web
Barnes ably defended Atlanta big man Kristaps Porziņģis for a good chunk of the first half on Monday, despite playing with two fouls.
—Eric Koreen, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
While leaning on Robbins’ style for its dance interludes — kudos to choreographer Maija Garcia for deftly capturing his movement vocabulary and the performers for so ably executing it — the script’s structure seems more an homage to Tennessee Williams.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 20 Dec. 2025
Although the vehicle that Michael, his wife Jodi, and their kids had been using as their home base during the IndyCar season since 2003 had served its purpose ably, the family was looking for something that would make life at the track even more comfortable.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2025
Naturally, with Dudley's help, the bishop eventually rediscovers the true meaning of Christmas, a message that The Bishop's Wife ably passes along to its holiday audience.
—Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025
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Eric Koreen, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
While leaning on Robbins’ style for its dance interludes — kudos to choreographer Maija Garcia for deftly capturing his movement vocabulary and the performers for so ably executing it — the script’s structure seems more an homage to Tennessee Williams.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 20 Dec. 2025
Although the vehicle that Michael, his wife Jodi, and their kids had been using as their home base during the IndyCar season since 2003 had served its purpose ably, the family was looking for something that would make life at the track even more comfortable.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2025
Naturally, with Dudley's help, the bishop eventually rediscovers the true meaning of Christmas, a message that The Bishop's Wife ably passes along to its holiday audience.
—Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ably
Cite this Entry
“Ably.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ably. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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