plural abilities
: the power or skill to do something
a young woman with many remarkable musical/artistic/athletic abilities
—often followed by to + verba teacher with an ability to inspire his students
Does he have the ability [=authority] to fire employees?
a writer's ability [=capability, capacity] to interest readers
a young woman of great musical/artistic/athletic ability
She has shown some ability with foreign languages.
He always works to the best of his ability. [=as well as he can]
Cite this Entry
“Ability.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/ability. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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