able

¹

[ ey-buhl ]

adjective

, a·bler, a·blest.

1. having necessary power, skill, resources, or qualifications; qualified:

   able to lift a two-hundred-pound weight; able to write music; able to travel widely; able to vote.

   Synonyms: fitted, fit

   Antonyms: incompetent

2. having unusual or superior intelligence, skill, etc.:

   an able leader.

   Synonyms: ingenious, clever, skilled, talented

3. showing talent, skill, or knowledge:

   an able speech.

   Synonyms: apt

4. legally empowered, qualified, or authorized.

noun

1. Usually Able. a code word formerly used in communications to represent the letter A.

-able

²

1. a suffix meaning “capable of, susceptible of, fit for, tending to, given to,” associated in meaning with the word able, occurring in loanwords from Latin ( laudable ); used in English as a highly productive suffix to form adjectives by addition to stems of any origin ( teachable; photographable ).

-able

¹

suffix forming adjectives

1. capable of, suitable for, or deserving of (being acted upon as indicated)

   separable

   enjoyable

   pitiable

   washable

   readable

2. inclined to; given to; able to; causing

   comfortable

   variable

   reasonable

able

²

/ ˈeɪbəl /

adjective

1. postpositive having the necessary power, resources, skill, time, opportunity, etc, to do something

   able to swim

2. capable; competent; talented

   an able teacher

3. law qualified, competent, or authorized to do some specific act

Derived Forms

• -ably, suffix:forming_adverbs
• -ability, suffix:forming_nouns

Other Words From

• over·able adjective
• over·ab·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of able¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin habilis “handy,” equivalent to hab(ēre) “to have, hold” + -ilis adjective suffix; -ile

Origin of able²

Middle English < Old French < Latin -ābilis, equivalent to -ā- final vowel of 1st conjugation v. stems + -bilis

Word History and Origins

Origin of able¹

via Old French from Latin -ābilis, -ībilis, forms of -bilis, adjectival suffix

Origin of able²

C14: ultimately from Latin habilis easy to hold, manageable, apt, from habēre to have, hold + -ilis -ile

Synonym Study

Able, capable, competent all mean possessing adequate power for doing something. Able implies power equal to effort required: able to finish in time. Capable implies power to meet or fulfill ordinary requirements: a capable worker. Competent suggests power to meet demands in a completely satisfactory manner: a competent nurse.

Example Sentences

In some cases, though, companies will be able to absorb tariffs or higher production costs if shifting manufacturing locations.

From Salon

They said it was the fault of the White House that Ibarra, who entered the US unlawfully in 2022, was able to remain in the country despite his criminal record.

From BBC

Under the proposals, tenants may have to wait more than ten years to buy their homes and those living in newly built social homes may never be able to buy.

From BBC

“If Java was able to do the work that she did in the 1960s, we can continue that work today,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

It was suggested it had been conducted by the UK to be able to blame Russia "as part of a sort of bizarre and surreptitious intelligence operation of some variety", he added.

From BBC

Related Words

• adept
• apt
• capable
• competent
• proficient
• skilled