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ability
/əˈbɪləti/
power to do something
She has the ability to solve complex problems quickly.
This sentence shows that she possesses a skill or capacity to handle difficult tasks efficiently.
formal
The power or capacity to do or act physically, mentally, legally, or morally.
His ability to speak multiple languages makes him a valuable asset to the team.
His multilingual skill is highly beneficial for the team's work.
The software's ability to process data in real-time is impressive.
The software's capacity for instantaneous data processing is remarkable.
Often used in professional, academic, or technical contexts to describe innate or learned skills.
informal
A natural or acquired skill or talent.
She has a natural ability for playing the piano.
She is naturally talented at playing the piano.
Commonly used in everyday speech to describe personal strengths or talents.
Collocations
demonstrate abilityshow one's skilllack of abilityinabilityto the best of one's abilityas well as one can
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish ability from skill
'Ability' refers to the potential to do something, while 'skill' is the practical application of that ability. For example, someone may have the ability to swim but lack the skill to swim competitively.
Gold Rule
Use ability for innate or learned traits
Ability is often used for both natural talents (e.g., 'She has an ability for music') and learned skills (e.g., 'He gained the ability to code after training').
Word Origin
From Middle English *abilite*, from Old French *abilité*, from Latin *habilitas* 'aptitude, skill', from *habilis* 'handy, skillful', from *habere* 'to hold, have'.
Usage Notes
Ability is a general term for power or skill, while 'capability' often implies potential rather than actual performance. 'Aptitude' suggests a natural tendency or talent.
Word Breakdown
abil-
from Latin *habilis* 'handy, skillful'
root-ity
denotes a state or quality
suffixEnglish Dictionary