capable

adjective

ca·​pa·​ble ˈkā-pə-bəl How to pronounce capable (audio)
 in rapid speech  ˈkāp-bəl
1
: susceptible
a remark capable of being misunderstood
2
obsolete : comprehensive
3
: having attributes (such as physical or mental power) required for performance or accomplishment
is capable of intense concentration
4
: having traits conducive to or features permitting something
this woman is capable of murder by violenceRobert Graves
5
: having legal right to own, enjoy, or perform
of my land … to make thee capableShakespeare
6
: having or showing general efficiency and ability
a capable lawyer
a capable performance
capableness noun
capably adverb

Examples of capable in a Sentence

a capable and efficient editor
Recent Examples on the Web Every six months, re-evaluate it to add more tasks as your child grows and becomes more capable. Dr. Jenny Woo, Contributor, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2024 Yet none of these experimental swings quite lands, because the thing Megalopolis needed most is what Coppola couldn’t conjure: enough years for technology to be capable—and popular opinion to shift in favor—of executing his most audacious ideas. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 27 Sep. 2024 Microfiber is also capable of repelling stains, liquid, and moisture. Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2024 This suggested that something capable of causing infection might have traveled on the wind—so the team boarded a plane to find out. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for capable 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'capable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French capable, from Late Latin capabilis, irregular from Latin capere to take — more at heave entry 1

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of capable was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near capable

Cite this Entry

“Capable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capable. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

capable

adjective
ca·​pa·​ble ˈkā-pə-bəl How to pronounce capable (audio)
1
: having the qualities (as physical or mental power) to do or accomplish something
you are capable of better work
2
: having qualities or features permitting
a new train capable of very high speeds
3
: able to do one's job well : generally efficient
tries to hire capable people
capability
ˌkā-pə-ˈbil-ət-ē
noun
capably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on capable

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