able
- 01 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.
Simple“She was able to finish the marathon despite the heavy rain.”
In context“After months of intensive physical therapy, the patient was finally able to walk without the assistance of a cane.”
UsageAlways followed by 'to' and an infinitive verb when used in this sense.
PitfallI 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.
- 02 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.
Simple“The company is looking for an able manager to lead the new team.”
In context“The department was led by an able administrator who managed to balance the budget without cutting essential services.”
Antonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“The court ruled that he was able to stand trial.”
In context“The witness was deemed able to testify only after a thorough psychiatric evaluation confirmed her mental competency.”
Antonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“He served as an able seaman for five years before becoming an officer.”
In context“The captain requested four able seamen to assist with the complex docking maneuvers during the storm.”
Synonyms - 05 C2 Proficiency
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.
Simple“The signalman used the word Able to clarify the spelling over the radio.”
In context“In the older phonetic alphabet, the sequence began with Able, Baker, and Charlie before the international standard switched to Alpha.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is largely replaced by 'Alpha' in modern international aviation and NATO contexts, but persists in some naval traditions.
Synonyms
Usage able to get · able to see · able to use
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.