ability

1 of 2

noun

abil·​i·​ty ə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce ability (audio)
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
c
: a person's status with regard to having a disability
used especially in legal and official statements
These guidelines not only help make web content accessible to users with sensory, cognitive and mobility disabilities, but ultimately to all users, regardless of ability.whitehouse.gov
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

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Pricing is ultimately an offset, but ability to pass this through varies; knock-on geopolitical tension is also concern. Fred Imbert, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024 However, a pervasive self-confidence issue can quickly turn problematic, as a leader’s level of faith in their abilities directly impacts decision-making, team dynamics and long-term success. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 This could happen when too much share of voice is given to a fragrance or cosmetics, thereby limiting a fashion collection’s ability to shine. Jennifer Weil, WWD, 5 Nov. 2024 Faith in Harris' ability to win the election has been found to be strong by various surveys. Jasmine Laws, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ability 

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near ability

Cite this Entry

“Ability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ability. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ability

1 of 2 noun
abil·​i·​ty ə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce ability (audio)
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"

More from Merriam-Webster on ability

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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