Collocations for "ability"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "ability" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
ability
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.n
- has a [great, wonderful, decreased] ability
- [is, has] the ability (to)
- has the [natural, proven, unique, demonstrated, proven] ability to
- with the [proven] ability to
- has the ability and [willingness, desire, knowledge] to
- has [limited, infinite] ability to
- [have, show] the ability to [make, work, use]
- (was able to) demonstrate the ability (necessary) to
- has no ability (at all)
- impaired ability to [drive, walk]
- question his ability
- [improve, develop] your ability (to, in)
- test your ability to [read, recognize, see, speak]
- [her, Mark's, this person's] ability to
- confident in her ability to
- judged on your ability to
- [identify, describe] your skills and abilities
- ability in [math, basketball]
- the ability for [users, anyone, people] to
- a mixed-ability class
'ability' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
affect
- amused
- cognitive
- communicate
- communication
- compete
- confidence
- constrain
- constraint
- crippled
- dazzle
- demonstrate
- deny
- desire
- diminish
- doubt
- doubtful
- exceptional
- extraordinary
- few
- gain
- gauge
- grudge
- hamper
- hold
- impair
- increase
- level
- limit
- lose
- mental
- mimic
- mismatch
- nurture
- outreach
- possess
- pronounce
- prove
- proven
- question
- resist
- restrain
- sharpen
- smash
- smell
- spam
- speech
- stern
- strengthen
- strengthening