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Ability Very Common

Ability has 3 different meanings across 1 category:

Noun

Definitions
Noun
1

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

"Her ability to solve complex problems quickly impressed everyone on the team."

2

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

"danger heightened his powers of discrimination"

3

Suitableness.

"This new software update demonstrates a surprising ability to run smoothly on older hardware models."

In plain English: Ability is the power or skill you have to do something.

"She showed great ability to solve the complex puzzle quickly."

Usage: Use "ability" to describe the capacity or skill to perform a specific task, not the general quality of being suitable for a situation. For example, say she has the ability to solve complex problems rather than that her ability makes her suitable for the job.

Example Sentences
"She showed great ability to solve the complex puzzle quickly." noun
Related Terms
able skill capable suitability volition factorizability condition playability investigability tolerance wisdom train aptitude infravision intelligence firepower inanimate faculty superability registerability
Antonyms
unfitness inability
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
quality cognition
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
adaptability sensitivity competence form interoperability magical ability Midas touch penetration physical ability contractility capability totipotency immunocompetence know-how leadership intelligence aptitude bilingualism capacity creativity originality skill hand superior skill faculty

Origin

First attested in the 1300s, the word "ability" entered English via Middle English and Old French from Latin habilitās. The original Latin root meant "aptness" or being "fit," which evolved into our modern sense of skill or capacity.

Rhyming Words
ity pity mity city ality arity ility acity deity whity asity icity unity hoity laity amity osity inity egoity vomity
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