capable

American  

[key-puh-buhl] / ˈkeɪ pə bəl /

adjective

1. having power and ability; efficient; competent.

   a capable instructor.

   Synonyms:

   accomplished, ingenious, skillful

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idioms

1. capable of,

   1. having the ability or capacity for.

      a man capable of judging art.

   2. open to the influence or effect of; susceptible of.

      a situation capable of improvement.

   3. predisposed to; inclined to.

      capable of murder.

capable British  

/ ˈkeɪpəbəl /

adjective

1. having ability, esp in many different fields; competent

2. able or having the skill (to do something)

   she is capable of hard work

3. having the temperament or inclination (to do something)

   he seemed capable of murder

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Related Words

See able.

Other Word Forms

• capableness noun
• capably adverb
• overcapable adjective
• quasi-capable adjective
• quasi-capably adverb
• supercapable adjective
• supercapableness noun
• supercapably adverb

Etymology

Origin of capable

First recorded in 1555–65; from Late Latin capābilis “intelligent, understandable,” apparently equivalent to cap(āx) “competent, fit, roomy” ( capacity ) + -ābilis able

Explanation

To be capable of something is to be able to do it, like your little brother who is perfectly capable of tying his own shoes, but likes having everyone else do it for him. When people are capable, they can handle whatever task is at hand, like a capable teacher who can explain difficult concepts and make it fun. You may also have heard that someone "isn't capable" of, say, committing a crime or hurting someone's feelings. In this case, not being capable is a compliment — it means you just won't let yourself do something to violate your own standards for behavior.

Example Sentences

Tesla shares were rising sharply on Wednesday after CEO Elon Musk revealed progress on the company’s work to deliver a next-generation chip capable of powering humanoid robots.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

In February, it tanked trucking and transport stocks when it said it had an AI technology capable of increasing trucking efficiencies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

If you believe Ware, the bus rides home have plenty of players singing, so someone might be capable of singing the national anthem before a game.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

They found a sponge fossil preserved in a thin layer of marine carbonate rock known for capturing soft-bodied organisms, including some of the earliest animals capable of movement.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

Even so, on the morning of September 18, 2008, Charlie Ledley was still capable of being surprised.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• able
• accomplished
• adept
• adequate
• competent
• efficient
• experienced
• gifted
• good
• intelligent
• proficient
• qualified
• skillful
• suited
• talented