ability

Study(23)

/əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

noun 5

Collocations

(noun.) skill/power to do sth

ADJ

exceptional, extraordinary, great, outstanding, remarkable, uncanny

inherent, innate, natural

Some people have an innate ability to make others feel comfortable in any situation.

proven | academic, acting, artistic, athletic, creative, intellectual, linguistic, mathematical, musical, reading, technical | mental, physical

VERB + ABILITY

have

demonstrate, show

She showed her ability to speak three languages fluently during the job interview.

acquire, develop | lack

lose

After the accident, he lost the ability to play his favorite sport.

appreciate, recognize

The coach quickly appreciated her natural ability to read the game.

PHRASES

to the best of your ability

She tried to help her friend with the homework to the best of her ability.

(noun.) speed with which sb learns

ADJ

high

Children with high ability often need more challenging tasks to stay interested in school.

limited, low

average, mixed

The school decided to organize students into groups based on their average ability in mathematics.

VERB + ABILITY

assess, test

PHRASES

a level of ability

The students showed a high level of ability in the mathematics competition.

a range of ability/abilities

The school accepts students with a wide range of abilities in mathematics and science.

Definitions

noun

Suitableness.

The quality or state of being able; capacity to do or of doing something; having the necessary power.

This phone has the ability to have its software upgraded wirelessly.

This wood has the ability to fight off insects, fungus, and mold for a considerable time.

The legal wherewithal to act.

The ability to shift profits to low-tax countries by locating intellectual property in them, which is then licensed to related businesses in high-tax countries, is often assumed to be the preserve of high-tech companies.

Physical power.

Financial ability.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) re

power

Antonyms

inability
unfitness

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

This phone has the ability to have its software upgraded wirelessly.

Wiktionary

This wood has the ability to fight off insects, fungus, and mold for a considerable time.

Wiktionary

Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. Charging school fees i

Wiktionary

He was sick of being vilified all the time by people who were jealous of his ability.

Tatoeba · #1938

Blind people sometimes develop a compensatory ability to sense the proximity of objects around them.

Tatoeba · #1965

You will be paid according to your ability.

Tatoeba · #19526

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, ability is marked as obsolete, archaic. Watch for register when choosing this word.

Your note

not saved

0 chars