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

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

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. Robert Half:

   There is something that is much more scarce, something rarer than ability. It is the ability to recognize ability.

2. Filmmaker Nick Guthe:

   Heidi Ferrer had indicated that if things got really bad Heidi Ferrer didn't know how Heidi Ferrer could continue, Heidi Ferrer didn't know how Heidi Ferrer could keep going, and I just kept saying, you know,' Just hang on, you know, hang on, medical science is moving at the quickest rate it ever has,' but I think Heidi Ferrer just felt that Heidi Ferrer was only going to diminish, Heidi Ferrer was going to lose the ability to walk, end up in a wheelchair, not be able to bathe Heidi Ferrer.

3. Evelyn Waugh:

   We cherish our friends not for their ability to amuse us, but for ours to amuse them.

4. House Speaker John Boehner:

   It's based on how I vote and what I do here. And frankly, the Congress on both sides of the aisle, I'd say 95% of the people here are good, honest, decent people trying to represent their constituents to the best of their ability, we live in an imperfect political system.

5. Anna Soubry:

   She is a woman of great courage & immense ability, if there is any justice she will soon return to the highest of office.

Images & Illustrations of ability

Popularity rank by frequency of use