ably

adverb

ˈā-b(ə-)lē 

: 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

Last year, she ably completed a half-marathon run with only minimal training.

—Zachary Lewis

Synonyms of ably

• masterfully
• capably
• skillfully
• well
• neatly
• competently
• expertly
• deftly
• artfully
• adroitly
• proficiently

Examples of ably in a Sentence

ably maneuvered the boat up to the dock

Recent Examples on the Web

Michael Edwards, the CEO of football, is the leading figure, and he’s ably supported by the technical director, Julian Ward and other important backroom members. —Gregg Evans, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025

It’s all done with verve and velocity, ably capturing the Looney Tunes spirit. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

And the impresarios and opera stars who drive the backstage story are all excellent, ably bringing comic relief to this dark tale. —Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 24 Nov. 2025

Under normal conditions, the Palisade hybrid maneuvered through crowded streets and construction zones ably. —Mark Phelan, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ably

• bubbly
• doubly
• stably

Kids Definition

ably

adverb

ˈā-blē

: in an able manner