Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having the skills, ability, or qualities necessary to do something well: Describes a person or thing that is competent, efficient, and effective.
   • Having the capacity, potential, or inclination for something: Often followed by the preposition 'of', indicating the possibility or suitability for a specific action or state.

Usage and Examples

• Describing a person's ability:
  • She is a capable leader who manages the team effectively.
  • We need to hire a capable engineer for this complex project.
• Used with 'of' to indicate potential or possibility:
  • This engine is capable of achieving high speeds.
  • He is capable of great kindness when he chooses to be.
  • The situation is capable of improvement.
• Describing an object's characteristics:
  • The smartphone is capable of running the latest software.

Advanced Usage

• "Capable of" + gerund (verb-ing): This is the most common structure to express the ability or potential to perform a specific action.
  • The system is capable of handling large amounts of data.
• "Capable of" + noun: Can be used to indicate susceptibility or the quality of allowing something.
  • A statement capable of misinterpretation should be clarified.
• In legal or formal contexts: Can describe legal capacity or qualification.
  • The court found him capable of managing his own affairs.

Variants and Related Words

• Capability (noun): The power or ability to do something.
  • The new software extends the computer's capability.
• Capably (adverb): In a capable manner; competently.
  • She capably handled the crisis.
• Incapable (adjective): Opposite of capable; lacking the ability, qualification, or strength to do something.
  • He was deemed incapable of telling the truth.

Synonyms

• Competent: Having the necessary skill or knowledge to do something successfully.
• Able: Having the power, skill, or means to do something.
• Proficient: Competent or skilled in doing or using something.
• Qualified: Officially recognized as being trained to perform a particular job; competent.

Antonyms

• Incapable: Unable to do or achieve something; lacking the necessary ability.
• Incompetent: Not having or showing the necessary skills to do something successfully.
• Unqualified: Not officially recognized as a practitioner of a particular profession or activity through having successfully completed its requirements.

Phrases and Idioms

• Perfectly capable: Emphasizes that someone definitely has the ability to do something.
  • Don't worry about her; she's perfectly capable of looking after herself.
• Show what one is capable of: To demonstrate one's ability or skill.
  • This is your chance to show what you are capable of.
• Capable hands: In the care of a competent person or people.
  • I left the project in his capable hands.

Adjective

1. have the skills and qualifications to do things well
   • able teachers
   • a capable administrator
   • children as young as 14 can be extremely capable and dependable
2. having the requisite qualities for
   • equal to the task
   • the work isn't up to the standard I require
3. (followed by `of') having the temperament or inclination for
   • no one believed her capable of murder
4. possibly accepting or permitting
   • a passage capable of misinterpretation
   • open to interpretation
   • an issue open to question
   • the time is fixed by the director and players and therefore subject to much variation
5. (usually followed by `of') having capacity or ability
   • capable of winning
   • capable of hard work
   • capable of walking on two feet