1
a
: having sufficient power, skill, or resources to do something
able to solve a problem
b
: having the freedom or opportunity to do something
hopes to be able to visit soon
c
: having a quality or nature that makes something possible
a car able to hold five people
: susceptible to some action or treatment
a shoe able to be repaired
2
abler
ˈā-b(ə-)lər 
;ablest
ˈā-b(ə-)ləst
: marked by intelligence, knowledge, skill, or competence
;ablest
ˈā-b(ə-)ləst
: marked by intelligence, knowledge, skill, or competence
an able administrator
variants
or less commonly -ible
1
: capable of, fit for, or worthy of (being so acted upon or toward)
—chiefly in adjectives derived from verbs
breakable
collectible
2
: tending, given, or liable to
agreeable
perishable
-ably
adverb suffix
or less commonly -ibly
Examples of able in a Sentence
Adjective
He will buy a new car as soon as he is able.
He turned out to be an able editor.
She is one of the ablest lawyers in the firm.
Recent Examples on the Web
Paisley Currah, New Yorker, 27 May 2025
This element of the community schools — where parents themselves are able to grow as caregivers and experience personal development — is key, Cardenas says.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025
The red line for both sides is whether Iran should be able to continue uranium enrichment, a material used for nuclear weapons.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 27 May 2025
Tools for Humanity would remain a for-profit company, and could levy fees on platforms that use World ID, but other companies would be able to compete for customers by building alternative apps—or even alternative Orbs.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for able
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Adjective
If the Administration forces various agencies to excise gender from the study of health, the government won’t be able to gather the evidence needed to justify policies that would benefit a wide range of people, including, in the case of COVID, men.
—Paisley Currah, New Yorker, 27 May 2025
This element of the community schools — where parents themselves are able to grow as caregivers and experience personal development — is key, Cardenas says.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025
The red line for both sides is whether Iran should be able to continue uranium enrichment, a material used for nuclear weapons.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 27 May 2025
Tools for Humanity would remain a for-profit company, and could levy fees on platforms that use World ID, but other companies would be able to compete for customers by building alternative apps—or even alternative Orbs.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for able
Cite this Entry
“Able.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/able. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
able
1 of 2 adjective
abler
-b(ə-)lər
; ablest
-b(ə-)ləst
; ablest
-b(ə-)ləst
-able
2 of 2 adjective suffix
variants
also -ible
ə-bəl
1
: capable of, fit for, or worthy of being
collectible
2
: tending, given, or likely to
perishable
agreeable
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English able "able," from early French able (same meaning), from Latin habilis "easily managed, skillful," from habēre "to have"
Adjective suffix
derived from Latin -abilis, -ibilis "-able"
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