Ability

Meaning

Ability means the skill, capacity, or power to do something successfully.

Pronunciation

/əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

Word Forms

• Base form: ability
• Plural: abilities
• Adjective: able
• Adverb: ably
• Related noun: disability

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

• have the ability to do something — to have the skill or capacity necessary to do something.
• develop an ability — to improve a particular skill or capacity.
• demonstrate an ability — to show that you have a particular skill.
• natural ability — a skill that someone seems to possess without needing much training.
• physical ability — the capacity to perform physical activities.
• ability to learn — the capacity to understand and acquire new knowledge or skills.

Example Sentences

• She has the ability to learn new languages very quickly.
• His ability to remain calm under pressure impressed everyone.
• The course is designed to develop students' ability to think critically.
• She demonstrated her ability to solve difficult problems.
• Talent is useful, but the ability to work consistently is just as important.

Literary Example

Example:

“His ability to throw his voice had been the source of many a sportive deception.”

— Charles Brockden Brown, Wieland; or, The Transformation

Here, ability means the power or skill to do something. The word refers to Carwin's unusual capacity to imitate and project voices in a way that deceives other people.

Story Workshop

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Related Words

Continue exploring words that begin with the letter A.

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