Word
able
US/ˈeɪbəɫ/
UK/ˈeɪbəl/
Definitions
01having the power or skill
A2 · Elementary
adj. having the power, skill, or money needed to do something.
adj. possessing the necessary power, resources, or ability to accomplish a specific task.
“She was able to finish the marathon despite the heavy rain.”
“After months of intensive physical therapy, the patient was finally able to walk without the assistance of a cane.”
Usage
Always followed by 'to' and an infinitive verb when used in this sense.
Pitfall
I am able to swimming.
I am able to swim.
The phrase 'be able to' must be followed by the base form of the verb, not the -ing form.
02very skillful
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. very good at doing something; clever and talented.
adj. demonstrating high levels of skill, intelligence, or competence in a particular field.
日本語:有能※
“The company is looking for an able manager to lead the new team.”
“The department was led by an able administrator who managed to balance the budget without cutting essential services.”
Antonyms
03legally qualified
C1 · Advanced Law Formal · Technical
adj. having the legal right or power to do something.
adj. possessing the legal qualification or capacity to perform a specific act or hold a position.
Español:competente
“The court ruled that he was able to stand trial.”
“The witness was deemed able to testify only after a thorough psychiatric evaluation confirmed her mental competency.”
Antonyms
04nautical rank
B2 · Upper Intermediate Nautical Technical
adj. a term for a sailor who has all the necessary skills.
adj. denoting a sailor who is certified to perform all standard duties on a ship.
Español:competente
“He served as an able seaman for five years before becoming an officer.”
“The captain requested four able seamen to assist with the complex docking maneuvers during the storm.”
Synonyms
05the letter A
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Military Technical
n. a word used in radio or navy codes to mean the letter A.
n. a phonetic code word representing the letter A, primarily used in maritime radiotelephony.
“The signalman used the word Able to clarify the spelling over the radio.”
“In the older phonetic alphabet, the sequence began with Able, Baker, and Charlie before the international standard switched to Alpha.”
Teaching tip
This sense is largely replaced by 'Alpha' in modern international aviation and NATO contexts, but persists in some naval traditions.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Latin habilis, the word originally denoted what was easily managed, held, or handled. This developed from the Proto-Italic haβēō and the suffix -ilis. In the Latin sense, the term suggested a certain physical fitness or aptitude for being used, as one might describe a well-balanced tool or a particularly cooperative animal.
The word entered Middle English by way of the Old Northern French able, a variant of the Old French abile or habile. While the initial letter fluctuated according to French and Latin preferences, the English spelling eventually dispensed with it, leaving able as a doublet of the later, more academic arrival, habile.
From Middle English ablen, a verbal derivation from the Middle English adjective able.
From the first letter of the word, appearing in the 1916 United States Army Signal Book. It was introduced to distinguish the letter a during telephone communication, subsequently becoming a standard in various radio and telephone signal protocols.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Idioms
Grammar
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/able
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0