able

Meanings

1. Having the skill, strength, time or opportunity to do something.
2. Good at a job, skilled and clever.

Example sentences

• "After months of practice, he was finally able to swim across the lake."

  Level A1, Meaning 1

• "I am not able to come on Friday."

  Level A1, Meaning 1

• "She is an able student who always finishes early."

  Level A2, Meaning 2

• "Will you be able to help me move this table?"

  Level A1, Meaning 1

Synonyms and antonyms

Look-alikes and common mistakes

• can : Can is the short, everyday word and does not need to. Be able to works in more tenses: I was able to, I will be able to.
• capable : Capable stresses skill or power in general. Able often just says that something is possible right now.

Word family and forms

Forms: abler, ablest

Word partners

Words and phrases that often go with "able".

• be able to
• an able student
• unable to
• able to afford
• able and willing
• fully able

Idioms and phrases

able and willing

Ready and happy to do something.

"We are able and willing to help with the move."

Origin

Able came into English in the 1300s from Old French, which took it from Latin habilis, meaning handy or easily held. That Latin word belongs to habere, to have or hold, so something able is something you can get a good hold on.

Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.

Usage notes

"Able" is usually followed by "to" plus a verb, as in "able to swim".

How to remember it

Able is in the middle of table and cable. If you can lift the table, you are able to do it.

Test yourself

Learn next at A1

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