able

UK: /ˈeɪb^əl/ US: /ˈeɪbəl/ ,(ā′bəl)

Inflections of 'able' (adj):

abler

adj comparative

ablest

adj superlative

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

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 © 2025

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

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

able / ˈeɪb^əl/ adjective

1. (postpositive) having the necessary power, resources, skill, time, opportunity, etc, to do something
2. capable; competent; talented
3. qualified, competent, or authorized to do some specific act

Etymology: 14th Century: ultimately from Latin habilis easy to hold, manageable, apt, from habēre to have, hold + -ilis -ile

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

-able suffix:forming_adjectives

1. capable of, suitable for, or deserving of (being acted upon as indicated): enjoyable, pitiable, readable, separable, washable
2. inclined to; given to; able to; causing: comfortable, reasonable, variable

Etymology: via Old French from Latin -ābilis,-ībilis, forms of -bilis, adjectival suffix

-ably suffix:forming_adverbs

-ability suffix:forming_nouns