ability

1 of 2

noun

abil·​i·​ty ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

plural abilities

1

a

: the quality or state of being able

the ability of the soil to hold water

especially : physical, mental, or legal power to do something

a writer's ability to engage the reader's interest

did the work to the best of her ability [=as well as she could]

b

: competence in doing something : skill

artistic abilities

2

: natural aptitude or acquired proficiency

students with different abilities

-ability

2 of 2

noun suffix

variants or less commonly -ibility

: capacity, fitness, or tendency to act or be acted on in a (specified) way

agglutinability

Synonyms

Noun

• capability
• capableness
• capacity
• competence
• competency
• faculty

Examples of ability in a Sentence

Noun

a young woman with many remarkable musical abilities

a young woman of great musical ability

She has shown some ability with foreign languages.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The first is your proprioception, or your body’s ability to feel and perceive the ground. —Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024

None of these reporting requirements change anyone's tax liability — just the government's ability to track the sales. —Scott Horsley, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024

Zendaya’s ability to serve look after look shows no sign of letting up. —Emily Chan, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024

The trademark office has the ability to do World Wide Web searches and cite different examples of use, relating to generic names or cultural dishes. —Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 10 Apr. 2024

Debt can significantly impact personal finances, influencing cash flow and the ability to save or invest. —True Tamplin, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

As such, new data privacy laws increasingly limit advertisers’ ability to track and profile individuals across the Internet. —Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2024

Previous research has assessed the tangy drink’s ability to reduce weight in older adults, but this is the first study to test the strategy in younger people. —Sarah Garone, Health, 29 Mar. 2024

As Burns draws more defensive attention, perhaps his best weapon has become his ability to pass out of a double team, his coach says. —Becky Sullivan, NPR, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ablete, abilite, habilite "suitability, proficiency, ability," borrowed from Anglo-French abilité, borrowed from Latin habilitāt-, habilitās "aptitude," from habilis "easy to handle, adaptable, fit" + -tāt-, -tās -ty — more at able

Noun suffix

Middle English -ablete, -abilite, -iblete, -ibilite, borrowed from Anglo-French -ableté, -abilité, -ibleté, -ibilité, borrowed from Latin -abilitās, -ibilitās, from -abilis, -ibilis -able + -tās -ty

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ability

• to the best of her ability

Kids Definition

ability

1 of 2 noun

abil·​i·​ty ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

plural abilities

1

a

: the quality or state of being able : power to do something

b

: competence in doing : skill

2

: natural or learned skill

-ability

2 of 2 noun suffix

-abil·​i·​ty

variants also -ibility

ə-ˈbil-ət-ē

plural -ties

: ability, fitness, or likeliness to act or be acted on in (such) a way

readability

Etymology

Noun suffix

derived from Latin -abilitas, -ibilitas "-ability"