What does able mean?

Definitions for ableˈeɪ bəl

Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word able.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. able(adj)



  2. able, capable(adj)

    have the skills and qualifications to do things well


  3. able(adj)

    having inherent physical or mental ability or capacity


  4. able, able-bodied(adj)

    having a strong healthy body



  1. able(Noun)


  2. able(Verb)

    To make capable; to enable; to strengthen.

  3. able(Verb)

    To vouch for.

  4. able(Adjective)

    Having the physical strength; robust; healthy.


  5. able(Adjective)


    Iu2019ll see you as soon as Iu2019m able.

  6. able(Adjective)


    That MP3 player is able to hold 5000 songs.

  7. able(Adjective)


  8. able(Adjective)


    That cliff is able to be climbed.

  9. able(Adjective)

    Gifted with skill, intelligence, knowledge, or competence.

    The chairman was also an able sailor.

  10. able(Adjective)


  11. able(Adjective)

    Legally qualified or competent.


Webster Dictionary

  1. Able

    fit; adapted; suitable

  2. Able


  3. Able


  4. Able


  5. Able(adj)

    to make able; to enable; to strengthen

  6. Able(adj)

    to vouch for

  7. Origin: [See Able, a.]


  1. ABLE

    ABLE is a simplified programming language targeted at accounting applications.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Able

    ā′bl, adj. (comp. A′bler; superl. A′blest) having sufficient strength, power, or means to do a thing: skilful.—adj. A′ble-bod′ied, of a strong body: free from disability, of a sailor, labourer, &c.: robust.—adv. A′bly. [See Ability.]

Suggested Resources

  1. able

    Song lyrics by able -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by able on the Lyrics.com website.

  2. ABLE

    What does ABLE stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the ABLE acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency


  2. Written Corpus Frequency


  3. Adjectives Frequency



  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of able in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of able in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Sample Sentences & Example Usage

  1. Buddha:

    He is able who thinks he is able.

  2. Virgil:

    They are able because they think they are able.

  3. Chinese Proverb:

    Behind an able man there are always other able men.

  4. Elbert Hubbard:


  5. Bob Braun:


Images & Illustrations of able

Translations for able

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • قادر, ماهر, قدير, بارعArabic
  • здо́льныBelarusian
  • компетентен, позволен, в състояние да, способен, умел, годенBulgarian
  • schopný, způsobilýCzech
  • habil, i stand til, kompetent, dygtig, have mulighed forDanish
  • fähig, tüchtig, imstande, kompetentGerman
  • μπορώ να, αρτιμελής, έχων σώας τας φρένας, είμαι ικανός να, ικανός, δυνάμενοςGreek
  • lerta, kompetenta, poviEsperanto
  • capaz, competente, diestro, hábilSpanish
  • pädev, suuteline, võimelineEstonian
  • توانستنPersian
  • kykenevä, taitavaFinnish
  • habilité, capable, expérimentéFrench
  • betûftWestern Frisian
  • ábalta, in annIrish
  • comasachScottish Gaelic
  • מסוגל, יָכֹל, יכולHebrew
  • կարող, ընդունակ, ունակ, ճարտարArmenian
  • bolehIndonesian
  • capace, abileItalian
  • 腕利き, 有資格, できる, 有能Japanese
  • 능란한, 할 수 있는, 유자격의Korean
  • potis, potens, sanus, habilis, licensLatin
  • spējīgs, izdarīgs, veiklsLatvian
  • dapat, bolehMalay
  • kapaċiMaltese
  • စွမ်းBurmese
  • aanmerking, om, bedreven, de, te, competent, in, in staat, mogelijkheid, hebben, handig, komenDutch
  • i standNorwegian
  • umiejętny, móc, zdolny, potrafić, mieć możliwość, zręcznyPolish
  • permitido, capaz, possível, competentePortuguese
  • abil, competent, capabil, abilitatRomanian
  • способный, компете́нтный, уме́лый, полнопра́вный, спосо́бныйRussian
  • kompetentný, schopnýSlovak
  • ha möjlighet att, kapabel, i stånd att, skicklig, kompetentSwedish
  • قادىر, قابىلUyghur, Uighur
  • khả năngVietnamese
  • skilik, duinafägik, fägikVolapük

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