Link Centre Dictionary

able

UK/ˈeɪ̯.bw/ US/ˈeɪ.bl̩/ very common us

adjective

1.

(usually followed by `to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

  • “able to swim”
  • “she was able to program her computer”
  • “we were at last able to buy a car”
  • “able to get a grant for the project”
Antonyms
2.

have the skills and qualifications to do things well

  • “able teachers”
  • “a capable administrator”
  • “children as young as 14 can be extremely capable and dependable”
Synonyms
Similar
3.

having inherent physical or mental ability or capacity

  • “able to learn”
  • “human beings are able to walk on two feet”
  • “Superman is able to leap tall buildings”
Similar
4.

having a strong healthy body

  • “an able seaman”
  • “every able-bodied young man served in the army”
Synonyms
Similar

Origin

From Middle English able, from Old Northern French able, variant of Old French abile, habile, from Latin habilis (“easily managed, held, or handled; apt; skillful”).

Phrases

  • able rating
  • able seaman
  • able whackets
  • be able
  • differently able

Related words

Word family

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.