ably

adverb

ˈā-b(ə-)lē How to pronounce ably (audio)
Synonyms of ablynext
: in an able and skillful manner : with ability, skill, or proficiency
was ably assisted
This silly comic Christmas romp is ably performed by a cast of 22 actors, led by the high-spirited Danny McBride as the childlike Buddy.—Matthew Yde
Last year, she ably completed a half-marathon run with only minimal training.—Zachary Lewis

Synonyms of ably

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Examples of ably in a Sentence

ably maneuvered the boat up to the dock
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.
The former Liverpool winger then picked out Mostafa Ziko, who finished ably. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 7 July 2026 The Whitecaps ably replaced four players – three sidelined by injury — who made large contributions to the playoff win. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2026 Marianna Gailus and Sepideh Moafi (The Pitt) ably perform the others, but Jackman is stunning as a man failing to balance love and lust. — Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026 As the slightly more sensible Tess, Ginger Minj is the glue of the production, ably carrying the heavy burden of turning the very silly storyline into something broadly coherent. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ably

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ably was in the 14th century

Rhymes for ably

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Browse Nearby Words

ablution block
ably
ABM
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Cite this Entry

“Ably.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ably. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ably

adverb
ˈā-blē
: in an able manner

More from Merriam-Webster on ably

Nglish: Translation of ably for Spanish Speakers

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