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

That has severely limited the agency’s ability to respond to infrastructure and other needs across the border. —Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2024

Strong self-expansion skills — the ability to make new friends or pick up new interests that require dedicated learning — are correlated with everything from general well-being to even weight loss and cognitive health. —Susan Dominus Kirsten Potter Anna Diamond Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 5 May 2024

Local officials warn that waiting for an election would significantly delay a city or county’s ability to raise revenue for even basic services, and that ballots could include dozens of questions asking voters to weigh in on various funding proposals if the initiative is approved. —Nicole Nixon, Sacramento Bee, 5 May 2024

Secured area: Ensure that all areas of the premises including outside seating areas are secure with permanent barriers to prevent access to the premises or the ability to place objects from outside of the premises to the inside of the premises. —Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 4 May 2024

Winning them back could be a major factor in Biden’s ability to win reelection. —David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024

Several states are also considering other legislation that would significantly impact local government’s ability to set their own tobacco laws. —Nicholas Florko, STAT, 3 May 2024

Heart failure means the heart's pumping ability is compromised. —Lambeth Hochwald, Health, 3 May 2024

There's nothing wrong with aging, but my lines—from my seemingly uncontrollable ability to furrow my eyebrows—bother me. —Medea Giordano, WIRED, 3 May 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"