1. variable noun [oft with poss, NOUN to-infinitive]
Your capacityfor something is your ability to do it, or the amount of it that you are able to do.
Our capacity for giving care, love and attention is limited. [+ for]
Her mental capacity and temperament are as remarkable as his.
...people's creative capacities.
Synonyms: ability, power, strength, facility More Synonyms of capacity
2. uncountable noun
The capacity of something such as a factory, industry, or region is the quantity of things that it can produce or deliver with the equipment or resources that are available.
...the amount of spare capacity in the economy.
Bread factories are working at full capacity.
The region is valued for its coal and vast electricity-generating capacity.
3. countable noun
The capacity of a piece of equipment is its size or power, often measured in particular units.
...an aircraft with a bomb-carrying capacity of 454 kg. [+ of]
...a feature which gave the vehicles a much greater fuel capacity than other trucks.
Synonyms: size, room, range, space More Synonyms of capacity
4. variable noun
The capacity of a container is its volume, or the amount of liquid it can hold, measured in units such as litres or gallons.
...the fuel tanks, which had a capacity of 140 litres. [+ of]
Grease 6 ramekin dishes of 150 ml (5–6 fl oz) capacity.
5. singular noun [oft toN]
The capacity of a building, place, or vehicle is the number of people or things that it can hold.If a place is filled to capacity, it is as full as it can possibly be.
Each stadium had a seating capacity of about 50,000. [+ of]
Toronto hospital maternity wards were filled to capacity.
6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A capacity crowd or audience completely fills a theatre, sports stadium, or other place.
A capacity crowd of 76,000 people was at Wembley football stadium for the event.
7. countable noun [inNOUN]
If you do something in a particular capacity, you do it as part of a particular job or duty, or because you are representing a particular organization or person.
[written]
She visited the Philippines in her capacity as a Special Representative of Unicef. [+ as]
This article is written in a personal capacity.
Morley served in many capacities: as a critic, director, notable biographer and broadcaster.
More Synonyms of capacity
capacity in British English
(kəˈpæsɪtɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ties
1.
the ability or power to contain, absorb, or hold
2.
the amount that can be contained; volume
a capacity of six gallons
3.
a.
the maximum amount something can contain or absorb (esp in the phrase filled to capacity)
b.
(as modifier)
a capacity crowd
4.
the ability to understand or learn; aptitude; capability
he has a great capacity for languages
5.
the ability to do or produce (often in the phrase at capacity)
the factory's output was not at capacity
6.
a specified position or function
he was employed in the capacity of manager
7.
a measure of the electrical output of a piece of apparatus such as a motor, generator, or accumulator
8. electronics a former name for capacitance
9. computing
a.
the number of words or characters that can be stored in a particular storage device
b.
the range of numbers that can be processed in a register
10.
the bit rate that a communication channel or other system can carry
11.
legal competence
the capacity to make a will
Word origin
C15: from Old French capacite, from Latin capācitās, from capāx spacious, from capere to take
capacity in American English
(kəˈpæsɪti)
nounWord forms: pluralcaˈpacities
1.
the ability to contain, absorb, or receive and hold
2.
a.
the amount of space that can be filled; room for holding; content or volume
a tank with a capacity of 21 gallons
b.
the point at which no more can be contained
filled to capacity
3.
the power of receiving and holding knowledge, impressions, etc.; mental ability
4.
the ability or qualifications (for, or to do, something); aptitude
5.
maximum output or producing ability
operating at capacity
6.
the quality of being adapted (for something) or susceptible (of something); capability; potentiality
7.
a condition of being qualified or authorized; position, function, status, etc.
acting in the capacity of an advisor
8. Electricity
capacitance
9. Law
legal authority or competence
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈfunction
Word origin
ME & OFr capacite < L capacitas < capax: see capacious
capacity in Automotive Engineering1
(kəpæsɪti)
noun
(Automotive engineering: Vehicle components, Engine, transmission, and exhaust)
The capacity of an engine is its size or power, expressed in Europe as cubic centimeters or liters, and in the US as cubic inches.
COLLOCATIONS: engine ~cubic ~
The amount of road tax you pay should depend on the size and engine capacity of your car.
This model has a fuel-injected in-line three-cylinder engine with a cubic capacity of 140 cubic inches.
This car is marginally quicker than previous models, but there are still times whena bigger capacity engine would be welcome.
capacity in Automotive Engineering2
(kəpæsɪti)
noun
(Automotive engineering: Design and performance)
The capacity of a container such as a fuel tank is its volume, or the amount of liquid it can hold, measured in units such as quartsor gallons.
The new model has increased fuel tank capacity, and will run for more than 150 miles between fill-ups.
This car has a fuel tank capacity of 9.9 gallons.
Engineers have improved the brakes, increased the fuel tank capacity, and made the car generally lighter.
The capacity of a generating unit, generating station, or other electrical apparatus is the maximum load that it can carry.
Power transmission lines have enough capacity to carry very large currents.
The electricity system must have sufficient reserve capacity that the system can accommodate prolonged equipment shutdowns without significantinterruption of electricity supply.
The capacity of a generating unit, generating station, or other electrical apparatus is the maximumload that it can carry.
COBUILD Collocations
capacity
aerobic capacity
airport capacity
aviation capacity
boost capacity
cognitive capacity
cut capacity
expand capacity
extra capacity
full capacity
generation capacity
in an official capacity
increase capacity
infinite capacity
intellectual capacity
limit capacity
lung capacity
manufacturing capacity
maximum capacity
mental capacity
nuclear capacity
reduce capacity
refining capacity
spare capacity
total capacity
Examples of 'capacity' in a sentence
capacity
The bosses attended in a personal capacity rather than as representatives of their companies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's also made me realise how deep my capacity to love is.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Most of the spectators in a capacity crowd of 14,000 stayed on to watch him in action.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I may not have her mental capacity.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is part of an inquiry launched last July into whether the industry has the capacity to meet demand.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Limited capacity on the riverside.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I want to know if she recognises her power, her capacity to sell stuff.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This enables all aircraft up to the Airbus A380 to land and take off with full load capacity duringall weather conditions.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The board said that being able to'make and release unused seat reservations during a journey ensures optimal use of available capacity '.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There is virtually no scope to change destination due to limited capacity in other ports.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You have a great capacity for love locked up inside you.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The higher standing of the human in the moral hierarchy derives from this superior mental capacity.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The capacity crowd is intent but seems gentle.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
When people feel there is more work than capacity it keeps people happy and busy.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The first thing you need to do is measure your bladder capacity.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The same goes for its carrying capacity.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We had the capacity to deal with that.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Would that also have been in a personal capacity?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But lower prices when stadiums are at capacity is not one of them.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Increasing its fuel consumption capacity helps us to lose unwanted pounds and inches.
Shreeve, Dr Caroline M Lower Your Blood Pressure in 4 Easy Stages (1989)
There also appears to be less spare capacity in the economy than many had feared.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Most people use less than a third of their available lung capacity in normal breathing.
Holford, Patrick The Family Nutrition Workbook (1988)
Its two runways are full to capacity.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Critics questioned the capacity and ability of the organisations to gear up in such a short time.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What is the boat's seating capacity?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Not within one's competence or capacity.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Each teacher has the capacity for immense power, but only for a small number of people.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
As must be the club 's capacity to foster democracy in the wider world.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This was the sort of game that makes managers lose their hair, and the rest of us delight in the capacity of football to thrill and amaze.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
capacity
British English: capacity /kəˈpæsɪtɪ/ NOUN
Your capacity for something is your ability to do it, or the amount of it that you are able to do.
Our capacity for giving care, love, and attention is limited.
American English: capacity
Arabic: قُدْرَة
Brazilian Portuguese: capacidade
Chinese: 容量
Croatian: kapacitet
Czech: kapacita
Danish: kapacitet
Dutch: capaciteit
European Spanish: capacidad
Finnish: kapasiteetti
French: capacité
German: Kapazität
Greek: χωρητικότητα
Italian: capacità
Japanese: 収容力
Korean: 수용량
Norwegian: kapasitet
Polish: zdolność
European Portuguese: capacidade
Romanian: capacitate
Russian: способность
Latin American Spanish: capacidad
Swedish: kapacitet
Thai: ปริมาณสูงสุดที่รับได้
Turkish: kapasite
Ukrainian: здатність
Vietnamese: khả năng
All related terms of 'capacity'
cut capacity
The capacity of something such as a factory , industry, or region is the quantity of things that it can produce or deliver with the equipment or resources that are available .
disk capacity
the maximum number of bytes that can be held on a disk
full capacity
The capacity of something such as a factory , industry, or region is the quantity of things that it can produce or deliver with the equipment or resources that are available .
heat capacity
the heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by unit temperature interval under specified conditions, usually measured in joules per kelvin . Symbol : C p (for constant pressure ) or C v (for constant volume )
lung capacity
The capacity of a container is its volume , or the amount of liquid it can hold, measured in units such as litres or gallons .
boost capacity
The capacity of something such as a factory , industry, or region is the quantity of things that it can produce or deliver with the equipment or resources that are available .
capacity crowd
a situation when the maximum number of people possible are watching an event such as a sports game or pop concert
cubic capacity
the volume of cylinder of an engine
excess capacity
unused production capacity
expand capacity
The capacity of something such as a factory , industry, or region is the quantity of things that it can produce or deliver with the equipment or resources that are available .
extra capacity
The capacity of something such as a factory , industry , or region is the quantity of things that it can produce or deliver with the equipment or resources that are available .
limit capacity
Your capacity for something is your ability to do it, or the amount of it that you are able to do.
memory capacity
(on a computer or other device) the amount of memory space available for data storage
mental capacity
Your capacity for something is your ability to do it, or the amount of it that you are able to do.
reduce capacity
The capacity of something such as a factory , industry , or region is the quantity of things that it can produce or deliver with the equipment or resources that are available .
spare capacity
The capacity of something such as a factory, industry, or region is the quantity of things that it can produce or deliver with the equipment or resources that are available .
total capacity
The capacity of a building, place, or vehicle is the number of people or things that it can hold. If a place is filled to capacity , it is as full as it can possibly be.
vital capacity
the volume of air that can be exhaled from the lungs after the deepest possible breath has been taken: a measure of lung function
aerobic capacity
Your capacity for something is your ability to do it, or the amount of it that you are able to do.
airport capacity
The capacity of a building, place, or vehicle is the number of people or things that it can hold. If a place is filled to capacity , it is as full as it can possibly be.
aviation capacity
The capacity of a building, place, or vehicle is the number of people or things that it can hold. If a place is filled to capacity , it is as full as it can possibly be.
capacity audience
a situation when the maximum number of people possible are watching an event
capacity booking
a time when someone has booked the whole of a venue or the maximum amount of something available
carrying capacity
the maximum number of individuals that an area of land can support , usually determined by their food requirements
cognitive capacity
Your capacity for something is your ability to do it, or the amount of it that you are able to do.
cracker capacity
The cracker capacity is the amount of a particular product which a refinery can produce.
cylinder capacity
the cylinder volume that is swept by the pistons of an internal-combustion engine
increase capacity
The capacity of a building, place, or vehicle is the number of people or things that it can hold. If a place is filled to capacity , it is as full as it can possibly be.
infinite capacity
Your capacity for something is your ability to do it, or the amount of it that you are able to do.
maximum capacity
The capacity of a building, place, or vehicle is the number of people or things that it can hold. If a place is filled to capacity , it is as full as it can possibly be.
nuclear capacity
The capacity of something such as a factory , industry, or region is the quantity of things that it can produce or deliver with the equipment or resources that are available .
pipeline capacity
The pipeline capacity is the volume of oil or gas which is needed to maintain a full pipeline.
refining capacity
The capacity of something such as a factory , industry, or region is the quantity of things that it can produce or deliver with the equipment or resources that are available .
seating capacity
the number of people a place can seat
storage capacity
the maximum number of bits , bytes , words, or items that can be held in a memory system such as that of a computer or of the brain
terminal capacity
The terminal capacity is the volume which can be stored in a terminal (= building or area with tanks ).
warehouse capacity
the amount of storage space in a warehouse
capacity attendance
a situation when a venue for an event is as full as it can be
generation capacity
The capacity of something such as a factory , industry, or region is the quantity of things that it can produce or deliver with the equipment or resources that are available .
industrial capacity
the amount of resources ( workforce , factories , etc) present in a place that will enable an industry or industries to produce goods
intellectual capacity
Your capacity for something is your ability to do it, or the amount of it that you are able to do.
manufacturing capacity
The capacity of something such as a factory , industry, or region is the quantity of things that it can produce or deliver with the equipment or resources that are available .
specific heat capacity
the heat required to raise unit mass of a substance by unit temperature interval under specified conditions, such as constant pressure : usually measured in joules per kelvin per kilogram
in an official capacity
If you do something in a particular capacity , you do it as part of a particular job or duty , or because you are representing a particular organization or person.
crude oil refining capacity
The crude oil refining capacity is the amount that is produced in a refinery each day.