HOW TO PRONOUNCE
able
/ˈeɪ.bl̩/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does able mean?
adjective
- Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task.
- Free from constraints preventing completion of task; permitted to; not prevented from.
- Gifted with skill, intelligence, knowledge, or competence.
More meanings (17)
adjective
- Legally qualified or competent.
- Capable of performing all the requisite duties; as an able seaman.
- (obsolete) Having the physical strength; robust; healthy.
- (obsolete) Easy to use.
- (obsolete) Suitable; competent.
- (obsolete) Liable to.
- (obsolete) Rich; well-to-do.
verb
- present participle and gerund of can
- (obsolete) To make ready.
- (obsolete) To make capable; to enable.
- (obsolete) To dress.
- (obsolete) To give power to; to reinforce; to confirm.
- (obsolete) To vouch for; to guarantee.
noun
- The letter "A" in Navy Phonetic Alphabet.
- radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter A.
proper noun
- A surname.
- Acronym of Achieving a Better Life Experience, a savings account for people with disabilities.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈeɪ.bl̩/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
What will be the consequence, if we are not able to avail ourselves of the resource in question in its full extent?
He wondered how she had been able to work so hard when she knew so little of what she was working toward.
More book examples (3)
“I do hope I’ll be able to say something once in a while, and not sit like a mute,” said Diana anxiously.
Both of us called it by that name, though I was not able to see where any formidable change had been made.
The sight of this stampede exerted a floodlike force that seemed able to drag sticks and stones and men from the ground.