Definitions for ability
əˈbɪl ɪ tiabil·i·ty

Princeton's WordNet(3.86 / 13 votes)Rate this definition:

1. abilitynoun

   the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment

2. ability, powernoun

   possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done

   "danger heightened his powers of discrimination"

Wiktionary(3.60 / 10 votes)Rate this definition:

1. abilitynoun

   The quality or state of being able.

   Etymology: * First attested from before 1398.

2. abilitynoun

   A skill or competence in doing.

   Etymology: * First attested from before 1398.

3. abilitynoun

   A high level of skill or competence.

   Etymology: * First attested from before 1398.

4. abilitynoun

   Physical, mental or legal power to perform.

   Etymology: * First attested from before 1398.

5. abilitynoun

   Aptitude.

   Etymology: * First attested from before 1398.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Abilitynoun

   the quality or state of being able; power to perform, whether physical, moral, intellectual, conventional, or legal; capacity; skill or competence in doing; sufficiency of strength, skill, resources, etc.; -- in the plural, faculty, talent

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Ability

   a-bil′i-ti, n. quality of being able: power: strength: skill.—n.pl. Abil′ities, the powers of the mind. [O. Fr. ableté (Fr. habileté)—L. habilitas—habilis, easily handled, from habēre, to have, hold. See Able.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. ability

   The feeling, understanding, power and knowing of being able.

   We are all able to do various tasks in life.

   Submitted by MaryC on January 25, 2020  

2. ability

   The quality of being able.

   She was ableto do anything her heart desires.

   Submitted by MaryC on January 15, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Quality

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'ability' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1104

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'ability' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1688

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'ability' in Nouns Frequency: #422

How to pronounce ability?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say ability in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of ability in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of ability in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of ability in a Sentence

1. Christophe Snoeck:

   We did not expect to see so many individuals having a signal that shows they did not [ live ] near Stonehenge in the last decade or so of their life, to me the really remarkable thing about our study is the ability of new developments in archaeological science to extract so much new information from such small and unpromising fragments of burnt bone.

2. Francois Hollande:

   There is no other link other than to say that terrorism is our common enemy, there should be no doubt as to our country's ability to protect itself and remain vigilant.

3. Rob Casper:

   Juan Felipe Herrera has this ability to speak of difficult things that in other hands might divide us, that's what makes Juan Felipe Herrera a great poet.

4. Jaime Mass:

   Zinc can help support your body's ability to make white blood cells, and white blood cells are the fighters for the immune system.

5. Hubertus Heil:

   And if the coalition in this country is dealing with what concerns people then, in my view, it should continue to work, it was a good day. It showed the ability to act.

Popularity rank by frequency of use