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Definition of 'capable'

capable

(keɪpəbəl )

1. adjective

If a person or thing is capable of doing something, they have the ability to do it.

He appeared hardly capable of conducting a coherent conversation. [+ of]

The kitchen is capable of catering for several hundred people. [+ of]

I had no hesitation in calling the police because I realised he was capable of murder.

2. adjective

Someone who is capable has the skill or qualities necessary to do a particular thing well, or is able to do most things well.

She's a very capable speaker.

Sam was a highly capable manager.

Synonyms: accomplished, experienced, masterly, qualified More Synonyms of capable

capably (keɪpəbli ) adverb [ADVERB with verb]

Happily it was all dealt with very capably by the police and security people.

More Synonyms of capable

COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

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capable in British English

(ˈkeɪpəbəl )

adjective

1.

having ability, esp in many different fields; competent

2. (postpositive; foll by of)

able or having the skill (to do something)

she is capable of hard work

3. (postpositive; foll by of)

having the temperament or inclination (to do something)

he seemed capable of murder

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Derived forms

capableness (ˈcapableness)

noun

capably (ˈcapably)

adverb

Word origin

C16: from French, from Late Latin capābilis able to take in, from Latin capere to take

capable in American English

(ˈkeɪpəbəl )

adjective

having ability; able to do things well; skilled; competent

SIMILAR WORDS: ˈable

Idioms:

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Derived forms

capableness (ˈcapableness)

noun

capably (ˈcapably)

adverb

Word origin

Fr < LL capabilis < L capere, to take: see have

capable in American English

(ˈkeipəbəl)

adjective

1.

having power and ability; efficient; competent

a capable instructor

2. See capable of

Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019 by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Derived forms

capableness

noun

capably

adverb

Word origin

[1555–65; ‹ LL capābilis roomy, appar. equiv. to cap(āx) roomy + -ābilis -able; see capacity]

Examples of 'capable' in a sentence
capable

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

Nobody knows what people are capable of.The side that played is more than capable of doing well but we have no strength in depth.The run probably came too soon when he flopped last time and he looks well capable of bouncing back to form today.He rants about restaurants that serve burgers on a brioche bun, rather than something capable of absorbing the grease.The brakes are perfectly capable with a single disc on the front and ABS as standard.While you've broad shoulders, the individuals in question are perfectly capable of dealing with these.Because what you have is a car capable of 0-62 in less than five seconds but isn't exactly light.He is certainly capable of bowling better.This car seems capable of speeds that could get you to your destination before you left.Young people are often capable of much more than signing on the dole like their parents.

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COBUILD Collocations
capable

equally capable of

fully capable of

perfectly capable

physically capable

potentially capable of

quite capable of

Trends of
capable

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In other languages
capable

British English: capable /ˈkeɪpəbl/ ADJECTIVE

If you are capable of doing something, you are able to do it.

He was hardly capable of standing up.

American English: capable /ˈkeɪpəbəl/
Arabic: قَادِر
Brazilian Portuguese: capaz
Chinese: 有能力的
Croatian: sposoban
Czech: schopný
Danish: duelig
Dutch: capabel
European Spanish: capaz hazaña
Finnish: pystyvä
French: capable
German: fähig
Greek: ικανός
Italian: capace
Japanese: ･･･ができる
Korean: ...할 능력이 있는
Norwegian: dyktig
Polish: zdolny
European Portuguese: capaz
Romanian: capabil
Russian: способный
Latin American Spanish: capaz
Swedish: skicklig
Thai: ที่สามารถทำได้
Turkish: muktedir
Ukrainian: здатний
Vietnamese: có năng lực

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Definition of capable from the Collins English Dictionary

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sauce or source?

Which version is correct?

Tourism is a major sauce of income for the city. Tourism is a major source of income for the city.

chord or cord?

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cord

chord

The door had been tied shut with a length of nylon .

gave or given?

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given

gave

He was mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

forth or fourth?

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forth

fourth

Go into the desert.

hall or haul?

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We are in this for the long hall. We are in this for the long haul.

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Sep 09, 2021

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bibliothecary

a librarian

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Scrabble score
for 'capable':
13

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

-

Score: 0 / 5

poor or pore?

Which version is correct?

We had only just started to poor over the travel brochures. We had only just started to pore over the travel brochures.

tic or tick?

Which version is correct?

She developed a tic in her left eye. She developed a tick in her left eye.

bough or bow?

Which version is correct?

I gave a theatrical bough and waved. I gave a theatrical bow and waved.

heard or herd?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

heard

herd

She no further sounds.

dual or duel?

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dual

duel

I have citizenship of Britain and the US.

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