ability

A2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /əˈbɪl.ə.ti/ See IPA manual

Freq #2673

Meanings

1

noun
the fact of being able to do something

This phone has the ability to update its software wirelessly.
2

noun
a skill or talent that lets you do something well

She has a natural ability for languages.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the fact of being able to... capability capacity faculty

2 noun · a skill or talent that lets... skill talent aptitude

Opposites

disability inability unability

Word family

Forms abilities

Derived forms diffabilityentransymotabilitynonabilitynotabilitysubabilitysuperabilitytransability

Related forms able

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Proverbs (1)

See all

Ability can take you to the top, but character is what will keep you there

Etymology

First attested in the 1300s. From Middle English abilite (“suitability, aptitude, ability”), from Old French ableté, from Latin habilitās (“aptness, ability”), from habilis (“apt, fit, skillful, able”); equivalent to able + -ity.

*gʰeh₁bʰ- Proto-Indo-European abilite Middle English ablete Old French habilitās Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# ability

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /əˈbɪl.ə.ti/
**Frequency rank:** 2673

## Meanings
1. the fact of being able to do something
2. a skill or talent that lets you do something well

## Examples
- This phone has the ability to update its software wirelessly.
- She has a natural ability for languages.

## Antonyms
- disability
- inability
- unability

## Derived Forms
- diffability
- entransy
- motability
- nonability
- notability
- subability
- superability
- transability

## Related Forms
- able

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *gʰeh₁bʰ-
- Root: abilite
- Root: ablete
- Root: habilitās
- Affix: -ity - state

## Etymology
First attested in the 1300s. From Middle English abilite (“suitability, aptitude, ability”), from Old French ableté, from Latin habilitās (“aptness, ability”), from habilis (“apt, fit, skillful, able”); equivalent to able + -ity.

## AI Etymology
Ability is first attested in the 1300s. It comes from Middle English abilite (“suitability, aptitude, ability”), from Old French ableté, from Latin habilitās (“aptness, ability”), from habilis (“apt, fit, skillful, able”); equivalent to able plus -ity. The historical line also includes Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ- and Old French ablete. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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