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able

[ ˈā-bəl]

able

adjective

Definition of able

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

\;ablest\ ˈā-b(ə-)ləst

\ : marked by intelligence, knowledge, skill, or competence
//an able administrator

Other Words from able

Adjective

ably \ ˈā-b(ə-)lē \ adverb

a task performed ably

Synonyms & Antonyms for dainty

Synonyms: Adjective

Synonyms: Antonyms:adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for dainty

Adjective

able and capable mean having the power to do or accomplish. able may be used for someone who has exceptional skill and has done well in the past.
// She is an able surgeon with years of experience. capable is usually used to describe someone who has the characteristics suitable for a particular kind of work.
// The recruits soon proved to be capable soldiers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
//The result is a languid oil market barely able to rouse itself even when conflict threatens in the Persian Gulf.
— Washington Post, "Even Boone Pickens Is Falling Out of Love With Oil," 18 Sep. 2019
//So kick off your week right with this GIF-able science.
— Scientific American, "Drenchable Drones, Prickly Cells and Face-Tracked Chimps: Science GIFs to Start Your Week," 16 Sep. 2019
//Michael Bottlang surveyed the vast Wilsonville warehouse this week, hands on his hips, barely able to suppress his glee.
— oregonlive, "WaveCel bursts onto the bike scene, expands into Wilsonville facility," 16 Sep. 2019
//Coaches, already able to challenge goalie interference and offside, can now do so for missed stoppages of play in the offensive zone that lead to goals.
— BostonGlobe.com, "(Debee Tlumacki for The Boston Globe)," 15 Sep. 2019
//Debbie Tatum of Baltimore, 64, stood with her grandchildren, Arianna and James Wheeler, 9 and 7, respectively, and seemed hardly able to believe her eyes.
— Jonathan Pitts, baltimoresun.com, "‘This is amazing!’: Thousands pack Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Central Library after massive renovation," 14 Sep. 2019
//To make matters worse, such forests are generally not able to recover once they’ve been removed.
— National Geographic, "Amazon fish species at risk if fires destroy river habitat," 13 Sep. 2019
//Our eyes become more sensitive to glare, slower to adjust to light, or less able to make a distinction between similar colors.
— Healthy Aging Leadership Team, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Health Dept.: Falls leading cause of injuries for older Americans, but not inevitable," 13 Sep. 2019
//So, the commission isn’t able to determine if Yang’s plan is within the rules, at least for now.
— cleveland.com, "Andrew Yang offers to give away $12,000 to 10 families. Can he even do that?," 13 Sep. 2019

First Known Use of able

Adjective

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

History and Etymology for able

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)

Dictionary Entries near able

More Synonyms and Antonyms ofable