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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Able Meaning, Examples, and Common Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：competent (able)

able 🔊

/ˈeɪbəl/

adj.

Having the skill or power to do something well.

Able man assembling furniture confidently with tools

competent 🔊

➕

/ˈkɒmpɪtənt/

adj.

Having the skill, power, or knowledge needed to do something well.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'habere' (to have) via 'habilis' (skillful).

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'A' person with 'b' (be) 'le' (able) = being able to do.

📖 Example

She is an able student who quickly learns new concepts in math class. 🔊 She is an able student who quickly learns new concepts in math class.

🔗 Collocations

be able to – Possess the capacity or skill to do something

able-bodied – Physically strong and healthy

academically able – Having high intellectual capability in studies

🔄 Synonyms

capable (adj.) – Having the ability or qualities necessary to do something

skilled (adj.) – Having expertise through training or experience

competent (adj.) – Having the necessary skills to do something satisfactorily

🚫 Antonyms

incapable (adj.) – Lacking the ability or qualification to do something

incompetent (adj.) – Not having the necessary skills or ability

unskilled (adj.) – Lacking training or expertise in a particular area

🌱 Derivatives

ability (n.) – The power or skill to do something

ably (adv.) – In a competent or skillful manner

disable (v.) – To make unable to perform a certain task

📖 Cultural Story

Able traces back to Latin 'habere' meaning 'to have' or 'to hold'. It evolved through Old French 'able' to imply having skill or capacity.

Meaning 2：capable (able)

able 🔊

/ˈeɪbəl/

adj.

Used to describe something that has a particular function or capability.

Smartphone showing able payment via QR code scan

capable 🔊

➕

/ˈkeɪpəbəl/

adj.

Describing something that has a particular function or can perform a specific action.

📁 Category：Technological Inventions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

This new app is able to translate live conversations between two people speaking different languages. 🔊 This new app is able to translate live conversations between two people speaking different languages.

🔗 Collocations

able to function – Capable of operating or working correctly

able to handle – Having the capacity to deal with or manage something

feature-able – Possessing the capability to include certain features (rare, technical)

🔄 Synonyms

functional (adj.) – Working or operating correctly

operational (adj.) – Ready to be used or in working order

effective (adj.) – Successful in producing a desired result

🚫 Antonyms

nonfunctional (adj.) – Not working or not having a useful purpose

inoperable (adj.) – Not capable of being used or operated

ineffective (adj.) – Not producing the intended result

🌱 Derivatives

ability (n.) – The quality of being able to perform a function

ably (adv.) – In a way that demonstrates capability

unable (adj.) – Not having the ability or means to do something