capable

UK: /ˈkeɪpəb^əl/ US: /ˈkeɪpəbəl/ ,(kā′pə bəl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ca•pa•ble /ˈkeɪpəbəl/   adj. 

1. having power and ability;
   competent:
   a capable instructor.
2. Idioms be capable of, to have the ability for;
   have the skill, motivation, etc., necessary for:
   He doesn't seem to be capable of murder. I'm sure she is capable of performing well.

ca•pa•ble•ness, n. [uncountable]
ca•pa•bly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ca•pa•ble  (kā′pə bəl), adj. 

1. having power and ability;
   efficient;
   competent:
   a capable instructor.
2. capable of:
   • Idioms having the ability or capacity for:
     a man capable of judging art.
   • Idioms open to the influence or effect of;
     susceptible of:
     a situation capable of improvement.
   • Idioms predisposed to;
     inclined to:
     capable of murder.

• Late Latin capābilis roomy, apparently equivalent. to cap(āx) roomy + -ābilis able; see capacity
• 1555–65

ca′pa•ble•ness, n. 
ca′pa•bly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. skillful, ingenious, accomplished. See able. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

capable / ˈkeɪpəb^əl/ adjective

1. having ability, esp in many different fields; competent
2. (postpositive) followed by of: able or having the skill (to do something): she is capable of hard work
3. (postpositive) followed by of: having the temperament or inclination (to do something): he seemed capable of murder

Etymology: 16th Century: from French, from Late Latin capābilis able to take in, from Latin capere to take

ˈcapableness noun

ˈcapably adverb