Ability

English

Noun

Ability (countable and uncountable; plural abilities)

1. (uncountable) The quality or state of being able.
2. (countable) A skill or competence.
3. (uncountable, countable) A high level of skill or competence.
4. (uncountable) Suitability or receptiveness to be acted upon.

Adjectives for Ability

superior; transcendent; surpassing; brilliant; eminent; distinguished; commanding; promising; superb; never-failing; proved; rare; unique; marked; conspicuous; discernible; pronounced; obvious; manifest; undeniable; surprising; amazing; astounding; extraordinary; remarkable; phenomenal; superhuman; inherent; innate; intrinsic; natural; vast; immense; limited; mediocre; middle; cold-blooded; uncanny; eerie; latent; administrative; artistic; executive; forensic; histrionic; linguistic; organizing; oratorical; recuperative; selective; story-telling; mature; mystifying; embryonic; intuitive; sensitive; supposed; sheer; versatile; productive; respectable; slender; professional; superlative; dramatic; acquired; individual; strategic; recognized; peculiar; wonted; potential; striking; crafty; constructive; singular; conscienceless; over-rated; intellectual; humble; undoubted; uncommon; critical; technical; variant; creative; doubtful; adroit; vocalistic; practical; enhanced; discontented; melodic; universal; conscious; humble; unexcelled;

Verbs for Ability

analyze -; ascertain -; attribute -; bow to -; bluster about -; confer -; demonstrate -; destroy -; determine -; develop -; diminish -; display -; distrust -; donate -; endow with -; enhance -; estimate -; evince -; exhibit -; increase -; invest with -; lack -; make use of -; manifest -; mistreat -; outstrip -; outweigh -; pool -; possess -; presume -; prove -; register -; test -; vitiate -; weigh -; develops -; enables -; enhances -; falls short -; redeems -; undergoes.

Synonyms for Ability

capacity, capability, skill, understanding, aptitude, efficiency, attainment, knowledge, talent, faculty, cleverness, dexterity, aptitude, aptness, aptitude.

Antonyms for Ability

ignorance, limitation, stupidity, incompetency.

Thesaurus

ableness; address; adeptness; adequacy; adroitness; airmanship; aptitude; aptness; artfulness; artisanship; artistry; bravura; brilliance; bump; caliber; capability; capableness; capacity; capital; cleverness; command; competence; competency; condition; control; coordination; craft; craftsmanship; cunning; deftness; devices; dexterity; dexterousness; dextrousness; diplomacy; disposable resources; dower; dowry; efficacy; efficiency; endowment; equipment; expertise; expertism; expertness; facility; faculty; finesse; fitness; fittedness; flair; forte; funds; genius; gift; grace; grip; handiness; horsemanship; ingeniousness; ingenuity; instinct; knack; know-how; long suit; makings; marksmanship; mastership; mastery; maturity; means; method; metier; might; natural endowment; natural gift; parts; potential; power; powers; practical ability; preparedness; proficiency; prowess; qualification; quickness; readiness; recourses; resorts; resource; resourcefulness; resources; ripeness; savoir-faire; savvy; seamanship; seasoning; skill; skillfulness; speciality; stock; strong flair; strong point; style; sufficiency; suitability; suitableness; suitedness; supply; susceptibility; tact; tactfulness; talent; talents; technical brilliance; technical mastery; technical skill; technique; tempering; the goods; the stuff; timing; trim; virtuosity; ways; ways and means; what it takes; wherewith; wherewithal; wit; wizardry; workmanship

Etymology

From Old French ableté (French habileté, earlier spelling habilité with silent h), from Latin habilitas (“aptitude, ability”), from habilis (“apt, able”) apparently. See able.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA: /əˈbɪlɪti/, /əˈbɪlɪɾi/

• Audio (US)

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Related terms

• able

Translations

quality or state of being able

American Sign Language: S@Sternumhigh-PalmDown-S@Sternumhigh-PalmDown S@Chesthigh-PalmDown-S@Chesthigh-PalmDown Arabic: القدرة Basque: gaitasun, trebetasun, abilezia Bulgarian: вещина (bg), кадърност (bg), ловкост (bg) Danish: evne (da) c. Dutch: vaardigheid (nl), vermogen (nl) Finnish: kyky (fi) French: capacité (fr) f., pouvoir (fr) m. German: Fähigkeit (de) f. Greek: ικανότητα (el) (ikanotita) f. Hebrew: יכולת (he) (yakhólet) f. Hindi: योग्यता (hi) (yogyatā) f., योग्यत्व (hi) (yogyatva) m. Irish: ábaltacht (ga) f., cumas (ga) m. Italian: abilità (it) f. Japanese: 手腕 (shuwan); 能力 (nōryoku); 実力 (jitsuryoku) Kurdish: Sorani: ده‌ره‌قه‌ت (ku) (daraqat), له‌ده‌س هاتن (ku) (ladas hAtin) Latin: prudentia (la) f., calliditas (la) f., calliditas (la) f., solertia (la) f., ars (la) f., ars (la) f., ars (la) f., scientia (la) f., sollers acumen (la)

Lithuanian: gebėjimas m. Macedonian: способност (sposobnost) Maltese: abilità (mt) f. Norwegian: evne (no) m1 Portuguese: habilidade (pt) Romanian: putință (ro) f., capacitate (ro) f., iscusință (ro), abilitate (ro) f. Russian: возможность (ru) (vozmóžnost') f., способность (ru) (sposóbnost') f. Serbo-Croatian: Cyrillic: спосо́бно̄ст (sh) f. Roman: sposóbnōst (sh) f. Slovene: zmožnost (sl) f. Spanish: habilidad (es) f. Swahili: uwezo (sw) Swedish: förmåga (sv) c. Telugu: దక్షత (dakshata), సత్తా (sattaa) Urdu: یوگیتا (yogyatā) f., یوگیتو (yogyatva) m. Welsh: gallu

a skill or competence

American Sign Language: S@Sternumhigh-PalmDown-S@Sternumhigh-PalmDown S@Chesthigh-PalmDown-S@Chesthigh-PalmDown Bulgarian: способност, умение, дарба (bg) French: habileté (fr) f. Haitian Creole: abilite Italian: capacità (it) f. Japanese: 才能 (sainō)

Kurdish: Sorani: توانا (ku) (twAnA) Maltese: kapaċità (mt) f. Romanian: abilitate (ro) f., iscusință (ro) f., îndemânare (ro) f., dibăcie (ro) f. Russian: способность (ru) (sposóbnost') f., умение (ru) (uménije) n. Spanish: capacidad (es) f. Swahili: uwezo (sw)

a high level of capability or skill

suitability or receptiveness to be acted on