capable
adjective
ca·pa·ble
ˈkā-pə-bəl 
in rapid speech ˈkāp-bəl
1
: susceptible
a remark capable of being misunderstood
2
obsolete
: comprehensive
3
: having attributes (such as physical or mental power) required for performance or accomplishment
is capable of intense concentration
4
: having traits conducive to or features permitting something
this woman is capable of murder by violence—
Robert Graves
Robert Graves5
: having legal right to own, enjoy, or perform
of my land … to make thee capable—Shakespeare
Shakespeare6
: having or showing general efficiency and ability
a capable lawyer
a capable performance
Examples of capable in a Sentence
a capable and efficient editor
Recent Examples on the Web
The page says that the family did not believe the accused was capable of the act before the incident and says that the family suffered two losses that day.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
If given more opportunity, the late-blooming 2018 fourth-round pick is capable of carving out a niche in the majors.
—Aaron Gleeman, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
Under this agreement, which has not been publicly disclosed, AGI is reportedly defined as being achieved when an AI system is capable of generating the maximum total profits to which its earliest investors are entitled: a figure that currently sits at $100 billion.
—Tharin Pillay, TIME, 8 Jan. 2025
But there is a certain percentage of psychotic people who are capable of lashing out.
—James Barron, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for capable 
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James Powel, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
If given more opportunity, the late-blooming 2018 fourth-round pick is capable of carving out a niche in the majors.
—Aaron Gleeman, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
Under this agreement, which has not been publicly disclosed, AGI is reportedly defined as being achieved when an AI system is capable of generating the maximum total profits to which its earliest investors are entitled: a figure that currently sits at $100 billion.
—Tharin Pillay, TIME, 8 Jan. 2025
But there is a certain percentage of psychotic people who are capable of lashing out.
—James Barron, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for capable
Dictionary Entries Near capable
Cite this Entry
“Capable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capable. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
capable
adjective
ca·pa·ble
ˈkā-pə-bəl
1
: having the qualities (as physical or mental power) to do or accomplish something
you are capable of better work
2
: having qualities or features permitting
a new train capable of very high speeds
3
: able to do one's job well : generally efficient
tries to hire capable people
capability
noun
ˌkā-pə-ˈbil-ət-ē
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