able
English · Français · Deutsch · Thesaurus
AI In plain words
Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
able¹
- /ˈeɪ.bl̩/ US, UK
- [ˈeɪ̯.bɫ̩] US, UK
- [ˈeɪ̯.bw]
- /ebl̩/ South Asia
- [eːbɐl] India, North
- [eːbɨɭ] India, South
- /ˈæbl̩/ Australia
Sounds like Abel (most accents) · Rhymes with -eɪbəl
Where it comes from
From Middle English able, from Old Northern French able, variant of Old French abile, habile, from Latin habilis (“easily managed, held, or handled; apt; skillful”). Doublet of habile.
adjective abler · ablest · hable
- Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task. She is able to lift the box without assistance.
- Free from constraints preventing completion of task; permitted to; not prevented from. In a democratic world you'd be able to say what you thought wherever you were.
- Gifted with skill, intelligence, knowledge, or competence. The chairman was also an able sailor.
- Legally qualified or competent. He is able to practice law in six states.
- Capable of performing all the requisite duties; as an able seaman.
- Having the physical strength; robust; healthy. After the past week of forced marches, only half the men are fully able.
- Easy to use. As the hands are the most habil parts of the body...
- Suitable; competent. […] and for every able man servant that he or she shall carry or send armed and provided as aforesaid, ninety acres of land of like measure.
- Liable to.
- Rich; well-to-do. He was born to an able family.
able²
- /ˈeɪ.bl̩/ US, UK
- [ˈeɪ̯.bɫ̩] US, UK
- [ˈeɪ̯.bw]
- /ebl̩/ South Asia
- [eːbɐl] India, North
- [eːbɨɭ] India, South
- /ˈæbl̩/ Australia
Sounds like Abel (most accents) · Rhymes with -eɪbəl
Where it comes from
From Middle English ablen, from Middle English able (adjective).
verb ables · abling · abled · hable
- To make ready.
- To make capable; to enable.
- To dress.
- To give power to; to reinforce; to confirm.
- To vouch for; to guarantee. None does offend, none....I’ll able ’em.
- present participle and gerund of can I might be able to go.
able³
- /ˈeɪ.bl̩/ US, UK
- [ˈeɪ̯.bɫ̩] US, UK
- [ˈeɪ̯.bw]
- /ebl̩/ South Asia
- [eːbɐl] India, North
- [eːbɨɭ] India, South
- /ˈæbl̩/ Australia
Sounds like Abel (most accents) · Rhymes with -eɪbəl
Where it comes from
From the first letter of the word. Suggested in the 1916 United States Army Signal Book to distinguish the letter when communicating via telephone, and later adopted in other radio and telephone signal standards.
noun hable
- The letter "A" in Navy Phonetic Alphabet.
Able⁴
noun
-
radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter A.
Similar: Alfa
proper noun Ables
- A surname.
ABLE⁵
proper noun
- Acronym of Achieving a Better Life Experience, a savings account for people with disabilities. This provision permanently allows designated beneficiaries who make qualified contributions to their ABLE account to qualify for the Saver’s Credit.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: capable, competent, fit, healthy, able-bodied, effective, feasibility, feasible, competence, capability, suitable, enabled, apt, enable, appropriate, available
Translations
Every language
adj skillful
| Español | diestro, hábil, capaz |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 능란한 neungnanhan |
| 日本語 | 有能 yūnō, 腕利き udekiki |
| 中文 | 能幹 /能干 nénggàn, 得力 délì |
| हिन्दी | समर्थ samarth |
| Português | capaz, hábil |
| Français | capable, expérimenté |
| Deutsch | fähig, tüchtig |
| Italiano | abile |
| Ελληνικά | ικανός ikanós |
| Română | abil, capabil |
| Русский | спосо́бный sposóbnyj, уме́лый umélyj |
| Tiếng Việt | có năng lực, có tài |
| العربية | قَادِر qādir, قَدِير qadīr, بَارِع bāriʕ, مَاهِر māhir |
| עברית | יכול yakhool, מסוגל mesugal |
adj permitted to
| Español | capaz, podiente |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 할 수 있는 hal su inneun |
| 日本語 | できる dekiru |
| 中文 | 能 néng, 會 /会 huì, 可 kě |
| Português | possível, permitido |
| Français | capable |
| Deutsch | imstande, fähig |
| Italiano | capace |
| Ελληνικά | δυνάμενος dynámenos, μπορώ να boró na, είμαι ικανός να eímai ikanós na |
| Русский | спосо́бный sposóbnyj |
| Tiếng Việt | có phép |
| العربية | قَادِر qādir |
| עברית | יָכֹל yachol |
adj legally qualified
| Español | competente |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 유자격의 yujagyeogui |
| 日本語 | 有資格の yūshikaku-no |
| 中文 | 有資格 /有资格 yǒu zīgé |
| Português | competente |
| Français | habilité |
| Deutsch | kompetent |
| Ελληνικά | αρτιμελής artimelís, έχων σώας τας φρένας échon sóas tas frénas |
| Română | abilitat, competent |
| Русский | компете́нтный kompeténtnyj, полнопра́вный polnoprávnyj |
| Tiếng Việt | có đủ thẩm quyền |
Talk about this word "able." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/able. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. able. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/able "able." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/able.Cite this
@misc{able_2026,
title = {able},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/able},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
