able

1 of 2

adjective

1
a
: having sufficient power, skill, or resources to do something
able to solve a problem
b
: having the freedom or opportunity to do something
hopes to be able to visit soon
c
: having a quality or nature that makes something possible
a car able to hold five people
: susceptible to some action or treatment
a shoe able to be repaired
2
abler ˈā-b(ə-)lər How to pronounce able (audio) ;ablest ˈā-b(ə-)ləst How to pronounce able (audio) : marked by intelligence, knowledge, skill, or competence
an able administrator

-able

2 of 2

adjective suffix

variants or less commonly -ible
1
: capable of, fit for, or worthy of (being so acted upon or toward)
chiefly in adjectives derived from verbs
breakable
collectible
2
: tending, given, or liable to
agreeable
perishable
-ably adverb suffix
or less commonly -ibly

Examples of able in a Sentence

Adjective He will buy a new car as soon as he is able. He turned out to be an able editor. She is one of the ablest lawyers in the firm.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
And then to be able to share them with people who seem to be interested, that’s really been both an adventure and a gift. Jake Silverstein Photograph By Mamadi Doumbouya, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Last year, hundreds of thousands were able to enter, most of them women, children and elderly men. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 10 Mar. 2024 Part of our deep transformation is being able to connect with people and relationship build. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 Indeed, the duo’s brief but intriguing response indicated that the public might be able to expect a collaboration that no one saw coming. Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Mar. 2024 The payments bank has not been able to sign on new customers since March 2022, and the RBI slapped a $650,000 fine last October for not following know-your-customer requirements. Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia, 10 Mar. 2024 Several animals at a zoo in Gaza have reportedly died from starvation, according to Al Jazeera, which said the ongoing siege and fighting prevented staff from being able to feed the animals. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2024 Under an agreement struck by Spain’s coalition government, the country is pushing to ban domestic plane routes where passengers are instead able to take a train in less than two and a half hours. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 27 Feb. 2024 New trends in media and digital entertainment present leaders with an opportunity to create a more informed and compassionate society where individuals are better able to understand, support, and advocate for those living with HIV/AIDS. Jennifer Lotito, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'able.' 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

Adjective

Middle English able, abill, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin habilis "easily handled or adjusted, adaptable," from habēre "to have, hold" + -ilis, alteration (by haplology before labial consonants) of -ibilis -ible — more at give entry 1

Adjective suffix

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French and Middle French, going back to Latin -ābilis, -ibilis, from -ā-, -i- (thematic vowels of various conjugations of verbs) + -bilis "capable (of acting) or worthy of (being acted upon)," going back to pre-Latin *-dhl-is, adjective suffix formed from the instrumental noun suffix *-dhl-om (whence Latin -bulum)

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of able was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near able

Cite this Entry

“Able.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/able. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

able

1 of 2 adjective
abler -b(ə-)lər How to pronounce able (audio) ; ablest -b(ə-)ləst How to pronounce able (audio)
1
a
: having enough power, skill, or resources to do something
able to swim
b
: not prevented
able to vote
2

-able

2 of 2 adjective suffix
variants also -ible
ə-bəl
1
: capable of, fit for, or worthy of being
collectible
2
: tending, given, or likely to
perishable
agreeable
Etymology

Adjective

Middle English able "able," from early French able (same meaning), from Latin habilis "easily managed, skillful," from habēre "to have"

Adjective suffix

derived from Latin -abilis, -ibilis "-able"

Legal Definition

able

adjective
1
: possessed of needed powers or of needed resources to accomplish an objective
able to perform under the contract
2
: having freedom from restriction or obligation or from conditions preventing an action
able to vote
3
: legally qualified : possessed of legal competence
able to inherit property

More from Merriam-Webster on able

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