abil·i·ty
ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
plural abilities
1
a
: the quality or state of being able
the ability of the soil to hold water
especially
: physical, mental, or legal power to do something
a writer's ability to engage the reader's interest
did the work to the best of her ability [=as well as she could]
b
: competence in doing something : skill
artistic abilities
c
: a person's status with regard to having a disability
—used especially in legal and official statements
These guidelines not only help make web content accessible to users with sensory, cognitive and mobility disabilities, but ultimately to all users, regardless of ability.—
whitehouse.gov
whitehouse.gov2
: natural aptitude or acquired proficiency
students with different abilities
variants
or less commonly -ibility
: capacity, fitness, or tendency to act or be acted on in a (specified) way
agglutinability
Examples of ability in a Sentence
Noun
a young woman with many remarkable musical abilities
a young woman of great musical ability
She has shown some ability with foreign languages.
Recent Examples on the Web
Arkansas Online, 11 May 2025
More recently, Quakers sued the federal government this year over federal immigration agents’ ability to make arrests at houses of worship.
—Luis Andres Henao, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025
Many Democrats at the time had privately expressed concerns with his ability to lead the panel, given his cancer diagnosis announced two days after winning reelection in 2024.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 11 May 2025
They were questioned about the running back’s blocking ability.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ability
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Noun
Far more recently, Quakers sued the federal government earlier this year over immigration agents' ability to make arrests at houses of worship.
—Arkansas Online, 11 May 2025
More recently, Quakers sued the federal government this year over federal immigration agents’ ability to make arrests at houses of worship.
—Luis Andres Henao, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025
Many Democrats at the time had privately expressed concerns with his ability to lead the panel, given his cancer diagnosis announced two days after winning reelection in 2024.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 11 May 2025
They were questioned about the running back’s blocking ability.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ability
Cite this Entry
“Ability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ability. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ability
1 of 2 noun
abil·i·ty
ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
plural abilities
1
a
: the quality or state of being able : power to do something
b
: competence in doing : skill
2
: natural or learned skill
-ability
2 of 2 noun suffix
-abil·i·ty
variants
also -ibility
ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
plural -ties
: ability, fitness, or likeliness to act or be acted on in (such) a way
readability
Etymology
Noun suffix
derived from Latin -abilitas, -ibilitas "-ability"
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