Collocations for "able"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "able" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
able
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adj
- able to [walk, attend, eat, talk, understand, work]
- [she, the baby, the patient] is able to [walk]
- will not be able to [walk] (again)
- am not able to [tell, judge, attend]
- able to [drive, vote, drink]
- is no longer able to [work]
- able to [do, obtain, get, use, view]
- able to [detect, get, provide, offer, help, identify]
- a [machine, device, system] able to [detect]
- an able [soldier, seaman, pupil, person, body, leader]
- [all, some, few] able [soldiers, men]
- [may, might, may well] be able to
- [wouldn't have been, wouldn't be, won't be] able to
- [barely, hardly, least, best] able (to)
- (not) [easily, physically] able (to)
- more able than most (to)
- ready, willing, and able
- if you are (both) willing and able
- able-bodied [people, person]
'able' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
ID
- ability
- acquaintance
- adapt
- advise
- afford
- afraid
- aftermath
- amusement
- arrangement
- avert
- backlash
- bail
- barely
- bowel
- claim
- composed
- comprehend
- consensus
- convict
- crisis
- defeat
- dependable
- depression
- discharge
- discipline
- dispel
- divine
- doubtful
- earthquake
- equally
- essential
- establish
- fear
- field
- firstly
- fluently
- focused
- fortunately
- fulfill
- fund
- funding
- gifted
- granted
- guarantee
- hardly
- harmony
- hassle
- help
- henceforth