able

1 of 2

adjective

ˈā-bəl How to pronounce able (audio)
Synonyms of able
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

Synonyms of able

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
When needed, Luzardo was also able to pull out his four-seam fastball or off-speed changeup. — Kansas City Star, 5 July 2026 Early guests will be able to try robot check-in and autonomous in-room delivery before the full launch. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026 California’s richest residents would be able to spread the payments over five years. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 Even in Moscow, extraordinary scenes are emerging of cars and trucks lining up outside gas stations, with some drivers waiting for hours with no guarantee of being able to fill up. — Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for able

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

Phrases Containing able

Rhymes for able

See All Rhymes for able

Browse Nearby Words

ablaze
able
-able
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Able.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/able. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

able

1 of 2 adjective
ˈā-bəl How to pronounce able (audio)
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
: skillful, competent

-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

Nglish: Translation of able for Spanish Speakers

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