Synonyms of capacity

capacity

noun

kə-ˈpa-sə-tē 

1

as in volume

the largest number or amount that something can hold

the seating capacity of the school auditorium is 800 people

Synonyms & Similar Words

• volume
• load
• area
• real estate
• complement
• cubage
• space
• fill
• burden
• measure
• room
• fullness
• stowage

2

as in position

an assignment at which one regularly works for pay

served in the capacity of the network's White House correspondent for a year

Synonyms & Similar Words

• position
• job
• function
• situation
• employment
• place
• post
• connection
• employ
• appointment
• berth
• office
• billet
• work
• profession
• duty
• business
• occupation
• career
• task
• spot
• service
• living
• practice
• pursuit
• trade
• vocation
• engagement
• mission
• calling
• gig
• line
• posting
• livelihood
• racket
• lifework

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unemployment
• avocation
• joblessness

3

as in role

the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists

offered advice in his capacity as a lawyer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• role
• purpose
• task
• job
• function
• work
• part
• position
• place
• business
• mission
• participation
• involvement
• duty
• concern
• situation
• office
• responsibility
• use
• activity
• service
• vocation
• occupation
• hand
• post
• commission
• niche
• employ
• assignment
• pursuit
• charge
• affair
• calling

4

as in ability

the physical or mental power to do something

not everyone has the capacity for learning higher math

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ability
• capability
• faculty
• talent
• aptitude
• competence
• capableness
• skill
• competency
• facility
• equipment
• reason
• gift
• instinct
• knack
• endowment
• prowess
• understanding
• intelligence
• resources
• address
• dexterity
• potency
• influence
• resourcefulness
• usefulness
• adequacy
• gray matter
• effectiveness
• fitness
• aptness
• might
• means
• adroitness
• deftness
• staying power
• hand
• wherewithal
• stuff
• ken
• puissance
• form
• effectualness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inability
• disability
• incapacity
• incompetence
• incompetency
• incapability
• ineptitude
• ineptness
• paralysis
• weakness
• deficiency
• impotence
• powerlessness
• helplessness
• inadequacy
• impairment
• incapableness
• ineffectiveness
• defectiveness
• uselessness
• inefficacy
• ineffectuality
• incapacitation
• disablement
• inadequateness
• debilitation
• ineffectualness
• inefficaciousness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of capacity

The challenge is to preserve human dignity while recovering our capacity for heroic ambition. — Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2026

This is different from endurance training that improves aerobic capacity. — Linda M. Boland, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

For Neopanamax vessels, the canal will also give priority to full container ships with the highest capacity of 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs). — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026

The Iran conflict and Russia's war on Ukraine are also contributing to higher diesel prices as a chunk of global refining capacity is now offline. — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026