having ability, esp in many different fields; competent - (postpositive) followed by of:
able or having the skill (to do something): she is capable of hard work - (postpositive) followed by of:
having the temperament or inclination (to do something): he seemed capable of murder
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ca•pa•ble /ˈkeɪpəbəl/USA pronunciation
adj.
ca•pa•bly, adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- having power and ability;
competent: a capable instructor. - Idiomsbe 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•bly, adv.
ca•pa•ble
(kā′pə bəl),USA pronunciation adj.
ca′pa•ble•ness, n.
ca′pa•bly, adv.
- having power and ability;
efficient;
competent:a capable instructor. - capable of:
- Idiomshaving the ability or capacity for:a man capable of judging art.
- Idiomsopen to the influence or effect of;
susceptible of:a situation capable of improvement. - Idiomspredisposed to;
inclined to:capable of murder.
- Late Latin capābilis roomy, apparently equivalent. to cap(āx) roomy + -ābilis able; see capacity
- 1555–65
ca′pa•bly, adv.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged skillful, ingenious, accomplished. See able.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'not capable' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
above
- adiactinic
- anelectric
- imperceptible
- impractical
- inadequate
- incapable
- inconvertible
- indeclinable
- ineradicable
- inexplicable
- infertile
- infrangible
- irrational
- irreplevisable
- irrepressible
- irresponsible
- noncallable
- nonmiscible
- nonviable
- passive
- quenchless
- soft
- surd
- unalterable
- unanswerable
- unapproachable
- unavoidable
- unexpendable
- unfindable
- unintelligible
- unreconstructible
- unstoppable