adj · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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nonstandard:/ˈkeɪ.bə.bəl/
CMU ARPABET:K EY1 P AH0 B AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Able and efficient; having the ability needed for a specific task; having the disposition to do something; permitting or being susceptible to something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
She is capable and efficient.
He does not need help; he is capable of eating on his own.
As everyone knew, he was capable of violence when roused.
That fact is not capable of proof.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Of sufficient capacity or size for holding, containing, receiving or taking in; accessible to. Construed with of, for or an infinitive.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective
Meaning 3
(usually followed by `of') having capacity or ability
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
capable of winning
capable of hard work
capable of walking on two feet
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: incapable
4
adjective
Meaning 4
(followed by `of') having the temperament or inclination for
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
no one believed her capable of murder
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: incapable
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
having the requisite qualities for
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
equal to the task
the work isn't up to the standard I require
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: adequate to(p), equal to(p), up to(p)
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
have the skills and qualifications to do things well
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
able teachers
a capable administrator
children as young as 14 can be extremely capable and dependable
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: able
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
possibly accepting or permitting
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a passage capable of misinterpretation
open to interpretation
an issue open to question
the time is fixed by the director and players and therefore subject to much variation
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: open, subject
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French capable, from Late Latin capābilis.
Across languages
Translations
61 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Albanian:
Aftë
— able and efficient
Arabic:
قَادِر
(qādir)
— able and efficient
Arabic:
قادِر
(gādir)
— able and efficient
Aromanian:
putut
— able and efficient
Basque:
gai
— able and efficient
Belarusian:
здо́льны
(zdólʹny)
— able and efficient
Bengali:
সক্ষম
(sôkshôm)
— able and efficient
Bulgarian:
спосо́бен
(sposóben)
— able and efficient
Bulgarian:
кадъ́рен
(kadǎ́ren)
— able and efficient
Burmese:
စွမ်း
(cwam:)
— able and efficient
Catalan:
capaç
— able and efficient
Chinese Mandarin:
能幹 /能干
(nénggàn)
— able and efficient
Chinese Mandarin:
有能力
(yǒu nénglì)
— able and efficient
Czech:
schopný
— able and efficient
Czech:
zdatný
— able and efficient
Dutch:
bekwaam
— able and efficient
Esperanto:
kapabla
— able and efficient
Finnish:
kyvykäs
— able and efficient
Finnish:
kykenevä
— able and efficient
French:
capable
— able and efficient
German:
fähig
— able and efficient
Greek:
ικανός
(ikanós)
— able and efficient
Hindi:
सक्षम
(sakṣam)
— able and efficient
Ido:
kapabla
— able and efficient
Interlingua:
capabile
— able and efficient
Irish:
cumasach
— able and efficient
Italian:
capace
— able and efficient
Japanese:
有能な
(yūnō na)
— able and efficient
Kaurna:
wayanta
— able and efficient
Khmer:
ជំនាញ
(cumniəñ)
— able and efficient
Korean:
유능하다
(yuneunghada)
— able and efficient
Ladino:
kadir
— able and efficient
Ladino:
kapache
— able and efficient
Ladino:
kapachi (Monastir)
— able and efficient
Latin:
potis
— able and efficient
Latvian:
spējīgs
— able and efficient
Macedonian:
способен
(sposoben)
— able and efficient
Manx:
jargal
— able and efficient
Norman:
habil'ye
— able and efficient
Polish:
stać
— able and efficient
Polish:
zdolny
— able and efficient
Portuguese:
capaz
— able and efficient
Quechua:
kuti
— able and efficient
Romanian:
capabil
— able and efficient
Russian:
спосо́бный
(sposóbnyj)
— able and efficient
Scottish Gaelic:
comasach
— able and efficient
Serbo-Croatian:
спо̏собан
— able and efficient
Serbo-Croatian:
spȍsoban
— able and efficient
Slovak:
schopný
— able and efficient
Slovak:
zdatný
— able and efficient
Slovene:
zmožen
— able and efficient
Spanish:
capaz
— able and efficient
Swedish:
kapabel
— able and efficient
Tocharian B:
cämpamo
— able and efficient
Turkish:
kapasiteli
— able and efficient
Turkish:
kapasitede
— able and efficient
Ukrainian:
зда́тний
(zdátnyj)
— able and efficient
Ukrainian:
зді́бний
(zdíbnyj)
— able and efficient
Ukrainian:
спромо́жний
(spromóžnyj)
— able and efficient
