ability
1 Americannoun
plural
abilities-
power or capacity to do or act physically, mentally, legally, morally, financially, etc.
- Synonyms:
- dexterity, expertness, proficiency, capability
-
competence in an activity or occupation because of one's skill, training, or other qualification.
the ability to sing well.
-
abilities, talents; special skills or aptitudes.
Composing music is beyond his abilities.
noun
-
possession of the qualities required to do something; necessary skill, competence, or power
the ability to cope with a problem
-
considerable proficiency; natural capability
a man of ability
-
(plural) special talents
Related Words
Ability, faculty, talent denote qualifications or powers. Ability is a general word for power, native or acquired, enabling one to do things well: a person of great ability; ability in mathematics. Faculty denotes a natural ability for a particular kind of action: a faculty of saying what he means. Talent is often used to mean a native ability or aptitude in a special field: a talent for music or art.
Other Word Forms
- subability noun
Etymology
Origin of ability1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (h)abilite, from Middle French, from Latin habilitās “aptitude,” equivalent to habili(s) “handy” ( able ) + -tās -ty 2; replacing Middle English ablete, from Old French, from Latin, as above
Origin of -ability2
Middle English -abilite, from French -abilité, from Latin -ābilitās (inflectional stem -ābilitāt- )
Compare meaning
How does ability compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
These changes, rather than new DNA mutations, appeared to drive the cancer's ability to spread throughout the body.
From Science Daily • Apr. 7, 2026
Critics are concerned that the spending cuts are already hobbling the agency’s ability to ensure more complex returns are filed correctly.
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
Carter also touted the Big Ten’s ability to organize name, image and likeness deals for athletes using NIL collectives.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
We can expect Beijing to focus much harder on gaining the ability to project power in and around the Gulf.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
Even more powerful than her ability to inspire pure terror was her ability to disarm powerful men with a smile.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.