ability
1 Americannoun
plural
abilities-
power or capacity to do or act physically, mentally, legally, morally, financially, etc.
- Synonyms:
- dexterity, expertness, proficiency, capability
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competence in an activity or occupation because of one's skill, training, or other qualification.
the ability to sing well.
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abilities, talents; special skills or aptitudes.
Composing music is beyond his abilities.
noun
-
possession of the qualities required to do something; necessary skill, competence, or power
the ability to cope with a problem
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considerable proficiency; natural capability
a man of ability
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(plural) special talents
Related Words
Ability, faculty, talent denote qualifications or powers. Ability is a general word for power, native or acquired, enabling one to do things well: a person of great ability; ability in mathematics. Faculty denotes a natural ability for a particular kind of action: a faculty of saying what he means. Talent is often used to mean a native ability or aptitude in a special field: a talent for music or art.
Other Word Forms
- subability noun
Etymology
Origin of ability1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (h)abilite, from Middle French, from Latin habilitās “aptitude,” equivalent to habili(s) “handy” ( able ) + -tās -ty 2; replacing Middle English ablete, from Old French, from Latin, as above
Origin of -ability2
Middle English -abilite, from French -abilité, from Latin -ābilitās (inflectional stem -ābilitāt- )
Compare meaning
How does ability compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The researchers generated 19 new variants that showed greater sensitivity to light, reduced activity in darkness, or the ability to respond to green light rather than only blue light.
From Science Daily
In the years following the surgery, she said her mobility and ability to carry out day-to-day tasks like getting washed and dressed and driving have been affected.
From BBC
Taken at face value, the whole incident appears to be another example of social media's apparently massive ability to influence our young people.
From BBC
In the short term, Iran’s ability to move its oil is facing immediate physical and geopolitical hurdles.
Oxygen is essential for many processes in plants, including metabolism, growth, immune responses, and the ability to adapt to stress.
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
