Meaning of able In English

• 0 to have the necessary physical strength, mental power, skill, time, money, or opportunity to do something:

  • Will she be able to cope with the work?

  • He's never been able to admit to his mistakes.

  • I'm sorry that I wasn't able to phone you yesterday.

  • It's so wonderful being able to see the sea from my window.

  • Get a good night's sleep and you'll feel better able to cope.

• 1 intelligent or good at what you do:

  • an able child/student/secretary

  • This problem is now being looked at by some of the ablest minds/scientists in the country.

• 2 added to verbs to form adjectives that mean able to receive the action of the stated verb:

  • breakable

  • washable

  • movable

• 3 added to verbs to form adjectives that mean worth receiving the action of the stated verb:

  • an admirable person

  • an acceptable answer

• 4 having what is needed to do something, esp. the physical or mental power, skill, time, money, or opportunity:

  • I lost my job and wasn’t able to afford my old apartment.

  • We won’t be able to keep up this kind of effort much longer.

• 5 good at what you do:

  • He is an able student.