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 bank said capacity constraints and rising competition are weighing on ASML, but that the stock remains a top pick. — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026

Movies in this class are, paradigmatically, produced, written, and directed by the same person, who generally also plays the devastatingly handsome romantic lead (and often funds the proceedings with money earned in some unrelated capacity). — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026

There was also damage to other under-construction projects, estimated to account for another 470 megawatts of capacity, according to Nepal’s Ministry for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026

For leaders, that strengthens the case for treating physical capacity as part of their cognitive toolkit. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026