- (postpositive) followed by to:
lacking the necessary power, ability, or authority (to do something); not able
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
un•a•ble /ʌnˈeɪbəl/USA pronunciation
adj. [be + ~ + to + verb]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- lacking the necessary power, ability, competence, time, etc., to accomplish some act:He's unable to swim.
un•a•ble
(un ā′bəl),USA pronunciation adj.
- lacking the necessary power, competence, etc., to accomplish some specified act:He was unable to swim.
- 1350–1400; Middle English; see un-1, able
- See incapable.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'be unable to recall' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):