CAPABLE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does capable mean? 

• CAPABLE (adjective)
  The adjective CAPABLE has 5 senses:

1. (usually followed by 'of') having capacity or ability

2. possibly accepting or permitting

3. (followed by 'of') having the temperament or inclination for

4. having the requisite qualities for

5. have the skills and qualifications to do things well

  Familiarity information: CAPABLE used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CAPABLE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(usually followed by 'of') having capacity or ability

Context example:

capable of walking on two feet

Similar:

able (having inherent physical or mental ability or capacity)

confident; sure-footed; surefooted (not liable to error in judgment or action)

resourceful (having inner resources; adroit or imaginative)

Also:

competent (properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient)

Attribute:

capability; capableness (the quality of being capable -- physically or intellectually or legally)

capability; capableness; potentiality (an aptitude that may be developed)

Antonym:

incapable ((followed by 'of') lacking capacity or ability)

Derivation:

capability; capableness (the quality of being capable -- physically or intellectually or legally)

capableness (an aptitude that may be developed)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Possibly accepting or permitting

Synonyms:

capable; open; subject

Context example:

the time is fixed by the director and players and therefore subject to much variation

Similar:

susceptible ((often followed by 'of' or 'to') yielding readily to or capable of)

Derivation:

capability (the susceptibility of something to a particular treatment)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(followed by 'of') having the temperament or inclination for

Context example:

no one believed her capable of murder

Antonym:

incapable ((followed by 'of') not having the temperament or inclination for)

Derivation:

capableness (the quality of being capable -- physically or intellectually or legally)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Having the requisite qualities for

Synonyms:

adequate to; capable; equal to; up to

Context example:

the work isn't up to the standard I require

Similar:

adequate; equal (having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Have the skills and qualifications to do things well

Synonyms:

able; capable

Context example:

children as young as 14 can be extremely capable and dependable

Similar:

competent (properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient)

Derivation:

capability (an aptitude that may be developed)

capableness (the quality of being capable -- physically or intellectually or legally)

 Context examples 

The Cancer Genome Anatomy Project (CGAP) will unite the newest technologies, along with those both cost-effective and capable of high-throughput, to identify all the genes responsible for the establishment and growth of cancer.

(Cancer Genome Anatomy Project, NCI Thesaurus)

B. cenocepacia is naturally found in soil, water and vegetation and is capable of degrading industrial waste, herbicides, and vegetation as well as producing many antibacterial and antifungal agents.

(Burkholderia cenocepacia, NCI Thesaurus)

Primitive blood cells residing in the bone marrow, derived from embryonic mesenchyme, and capable of differentiating into any of the blood cell line progenitor cells (erythroblasts, young granulocytic series cells, megakaryocytes, etc.)

(Bone Marrow Stem Cell, NCI Thesaurus)

No more to say—a—or listen to persuasion—go immediately—not capable—a—bear society—upon the track of devoted and doomed traitor—HEEP!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

1 or more networks, composed of health care provider organization researchers who will be capable of conducting studies of cancer epidemiology, treatment, and prevention and control.

(Cancer Research Infrastructure, NCI Thesaurus)

Any compound capable of activating the cannabinoid receptor CB1 and/or CB2.

(Cannabinoid, NCI Thesaurus)

Planets in Capricorn blend beautifully with your sign of Scorpio, so you will be capable of pulling out all the stops to create success.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Not a man believed him capable of the feat.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

These women, capable of the most sublime emotions, of the tenderest sympathies, were open-mouthed and screaming.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Deletion of early genes E1 and E2b in Ad5 potentially circumvent pre-existing anti-adenovirus immunity and is capable of inducing strong immune responses.

(Adenoviral Vector Ad5-CEA(6D) Vaccine, NCI Thesaurus)