ability
1 of 2noun
abil·i·ty ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
plural abilities
1
a
: the quality or state of being able
the ability of the soil to hold water
especially : physical, mental, or legal power to do something
a writer's ability to engage the reader's interest
did the work to the best of her ability [=as well as she could]
b
: competence in doing something : skill
artistic abilities
2
: natural aptitude or acquired proficiency
students with different abilities
-ability
2 of 2noun suffix
variants or less commonly -ibility
: capacity, fitness, or tendency to act or be acted on in a (specified) way
agglutinability
Synonyms
Noun
- capability
- capableness
- capacity
- competence
- competency
- faculty
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun a young woman with many remarkable musical abilities a young woman of great musical ability She has shown some ability with foreign languages.
Recent Examples on the Web
Pat Muoio, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 When the Bengals drafted Chase and Higgins, the front office prioritized their playmaking ability. Charlie Goldsmith, The Enquirer, 8 Sep. 2022 O'Neal credits his years of fatherhood for his ability to connect with his younger fans. Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2022 Medical experts have said that a person's speech patterns following a stroke are not indicative of their cognitive ability. Alisa Wiersema, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2022 Heck, even the flashes of promise within preseason games last month foreshadowed the giddiness and anticipation that surfaces when Fields showcases his playmaking ability. Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 His ability to make a central location feel just as vital as the actors that are inhabiting them is quite striking. Clayton Davis, Variety, 7 Sep. 2022 Flies can thank their fast, sophisticated eyesight and some neural quirks for their ability to escape swats with such speed and agility. CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 Its volumizing namesake comes from its ability to easily place the dryer close to the scalp, beneath the hair, for that swingy, salon-coiffed look. Heath Owens, Good Housekeeping, 7 Sep. 2022 See More
Noun
The problem, though, is that much of the cybersecurity marketplace is premised on the notion that technology advances are best measured in their ability to perfectly reduce the possibility of an attack. Pat Muoio, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 When the Bengals drafted Chase and Higgins, the front office prioritized their playmaking ability. Charlie Goldsmith, The Enquirer, 8 Sep. 2022 O'Neal credits his years of fatherhood for his ability to connect with his younger fans. Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2022 Medical experts have said that a person's speech patterns following a stroke are not indicative of their cognitive ability. Alisa Wiersema, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2022 Heck, even the flashes of promise within preseason games last month foreshadowed the giddiness and anticipation that surfaces when Fields showcases his playmaking ability. Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 His ability to make a central location feel just as vital as the actors that are inhabiting them is quite striking. Clayton Davis, Variety, 7 Sep. 2022 Flies can thank their fast, sophisticated eyesight and some neural quirks for their ability to escape swats with such speed and agility. CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 Its volumizing namesake comes from its ability to easily place the dryer close to the scalp, beneath the hair, for that swingy, salon-coiffed look. Heath Owens, Good Housekeeping, 7 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English ablete, abilite, habilite "suitability, proficiency, ability," borrowed from Anglo-French abilité, borrowed from Latin habilitāt-, habilitās "aptitude," from habilis "easy to handle, adaptable, fit" + -tāt-, -tās -ty — more at able
Noun suffix
Middle English -ablete, -abilite, -iblete, -ibilite, borrowed from Anglo-French -ableté, -abilité, -ibleté, -ibilité, borrowed from Latin -abilitās, -ibilitās, from -abilis, -ibilis -able + -tās -ty
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing ability
Kids Definition
ability 1 of 2
noun
abil·i·ty ə-ˈbi-lə-tē
plural abilities
1
: power to do something
The cleaner has the ability to kill germs.
2
: natural talent or acquired skill
great musical ability
-ability
2 of 2noun suffix
-abil·i·ty
variants also -ibility
ə-ˈbi-lə-tē
plural -abilities also -ibilities
: ability, fitness, or likeliness to act or be acted upon in (such) a way
capability
visibility
ability
noun
as in capability
the physical or mental power to do something as a result of the accident the once-vigorous athlete lost the ability to walk Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- capability
- capacity
- skill
- talent
- faculty
- aptitude
- capableness
- competence
- competency
- knack
- instinct
- reason
- gift
- prowess
- equipment
- facility
- resources
- intelligence
- resourcefulness
- dexterity
- influence
- understanding
- might
- usefulness
- potency
- address
- endowment
- effectiveness
- fitness
- aptness
- adequacy
- means
- wherewithal
- deftness
- adroitness
- gray matter
- hand
- ken
- stuff
- puissance
- form
- staying power
- effectualness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- inability
- disability
- incapacity
- incapability
- incompetence
- incompetency
- ineptitude
- ineptness
- paralysis
- weakness
- helplessness
- powerlessness
- impotence
- deficiency
- impairment
- inadequacy
- ineffectiveness
- incapableness
- uselessness
- defectiveness
- inefficacy
- ineffectuality
- incapacitation
- inadequateness
- debilitation
- disablement
- ineffectualness
- inefficaciousness