capable

adjective

ca·​pa·​ble ˈkā-pə-bəl 

 in rapid speech  ˈkāp-bəl

1

: susceptible

a remark capable of being misunderstood

2

obsolete : comprehensive

3

: having attributes (such as physical or mental power) required for performance or accomplishment

is capable of intense concentration

4

: having traits conducive to or features permitting something

this woman is capable of murder by violence

—Robert Graves

5

: having legal right to own, enjoy, or perform

of my land … to make thee capable

—Shakespeare

6

: having or showing general efficiency and ability

a capable lawyer

a capable performance

capableness

ˈkā-pə-bəl-nəs 

noun

capably

ˈkā-pə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• able
• competent
• equal
• fit
• good
• qualified
• suitable

Examples of capable in a Sentence

a capable and efficient editor

Recent Examples on the Web

While Jerusalem values its ability to operate freely in Syrian airspace—thanks in part to the deconfliction mechanism with Russian commanders—that arrangement cannot come at the cost of allowing Hezbollah to build an arsenal capable of overwhelming Israel's defenses. —Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025

An object reaching a 10 on the Torino Scale would be a collision capable of causing a global catastrophe. —Amanda Kooser, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Our objective is to cultivate a movement that’s capable of persuading as many Americans as possible to support sane, rational, and morally upstanding policy. —Noah Rothman, National Review, 2 Apr. 2025

There is a good chance for strong, isolated supercell thunderstorms capable of producing large hail and a couple of strong tornadoes to develop across parts of north-central Oklahoma and south-central Kansas, according to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French capable, from Late Latin capabilis, irregular from Latin capere to take — more at heave entry 1

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for capable

• incapable
• inescapable

Kids Definition

capable

adjective

ca·​pa·​ble ˈkā-pə-bəl 

1

: having the qualities (as physical or mental power) to do or accomplish something

you are capable of better work

2

: having qualities or features permitting

a new train capable of very high speeds

3

: able to do one's job well : generally efficient

tries to hire capable people

capability

ˌkā-pə-ˈbil-ət-ē

noun

capably

ˈkā-pə-blē 

adverb