ably

UK: /ˈeɪbli/ US: (ā′blē)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

a•bly  (ā′blē), adv. 

1. in an able manner;
   with skill or ability;
   competently.

• Middle English abelli. See able, -ly 1350–1400

-ably, 

1. a suffix combining -able and -ly that forms adverbs corresponding to adjectives ending in -able: commendably;
   dependably;
   tolerably.

Also, -ibly. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ably / ˈeɪblɪ/ adverb

1. in a competent or skilful manner

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

a•ble /ˈeɪbəl/   adj. (for def. 2) a•bler, a•blest. 

1. having the necessary power, skill, knowledge, or resources to do something:
   [be + ~ + to + verb] able to read music after just a few lessons.
2. having or showing unusual talent, intelligence, skill, or knowledge:
   an able leader.

a•bly, adv. 
Related Words

able is an adjective that usually comes after some form of be, ably is an adverb, ability is a noun:
John is able to run fast. He did the work ably and efficiently. John has the ability to run fast.
See -habil-.

-able,  suffix. 

1. -able is used to form adjectives from verbs, with the meaning "capable of, fit for, tending to'': teach + -able → teachable (= capable of being taught);
   photograph + -able → photographable = (fit for photographing).

Compare -ible.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

a•ble  (ā′bəl), adj., a•bler, a•blest, n. 
adj. 

1. having necessary power, skill, resources, or qualifications;
   qualified:
   able to lift a two-hundred-pound weight;
   able to travel widely;
   able to vote.
2. having unusual or superior intelligence, skill, etc.:
   an able leader.
3. showing talent, skill, or knowledge:
   an able speech.
4. Law legally empowered, qualified, or authorized.

n. 

5. Telecommunications (usually cap.) a code word formerly used in communications to represent the letter A.

• Latin habilis handy, equivalent. to hab(ēre) to have, hold + -ilis -ile
• Middle French
• Middle English 1275–1325

Synonyms

• 1. fit, fitted.
  Able, capable, competent all mean possessing adequate power for doing something.
  Able implies power equal to effort required:
  able to finish in time.
  Capable implies power to meet or fulfill ordinary requirements:
  a capable worker.
  Competent suggests power to meet demands in a completely satisfactory manner:
  a competent nurse.
• 2. talented; skilled, clever, ingenious.
• 3. apt.

Antonyms

• 1. incompetent.

-able, 

1. a suffix meaning "capable of, susceptible of, fit for, tending to, given to,'' associated in meaning with the word able, occurring in loanwords from Latin (laudable);
   used in English as a highly productive suffix to form adjectives by addition to stems of any origin (teachable;
   photographable).

Also, -ble, -ible. 

• Latin -ābilis, equivalent. to -ā- final vowel of 1st conjugation verb, verbal stems + -bilis
• Old French
• Middle English