Link Centre Dictionary

unable

UK/ʌnˈeɪbl̩/ US/ʌˈneɪbʌl/ common

adjective

1.

(usually followed by `to'') not having the necessary means or skill or know-how

  • “unable to get to town without a car”
  • “unable to obtain funds”
Synonyms
Antonyms
2.

(usually followed by `to'') lacking necessary physical or mental ability

  • “dyslexics are unable to learn to read adequately”
  • “the sun was unable to melt enough snow”
Similar
3.

lacking in power or forcefulness

  • “an ineffectual ruler”
  • “like an unable phoenix in hot ashes”
Synonyms
Similar

Origin

From Middle English unable, unabel, unhable, unhabil, equivalent to un- + 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.