معنی
ability
abilitynounCollocations from this entryCollocations from other entriesCollocations from the corpusActivator 1 2 3 4Phrases from this entryPhrases from other entriesOther dictionary examplesCorpus examplesabilityabilitiesabilitya‧bil‧i‧ty
S2
W1 /E™EˆbE?lE™ti, E™EˆbE?lE?ti/
noun (plural abilities)Word familyDate: 1400-1500
Language: Old French
Origin: habilit?©, from Latin habilitas, from habilis; → ABLE
1[countable]CAN
the state of being able to do somethingability to do something
the ability to walkThe health center serves all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.servepatient2LEVEL[uncountable and countable]someone’s level of skill at doing something:
The test measures your mathematical ability.measuremixed ability classesmixclassof high/low etc abilitystudents of average abilitystudentThere are musicians of all abilities.bemusicianabilitysomebody's abilities as somethingHe showed his abilities as a leader.showability3to the best of your abilityTRY TO DO OR GET STHas well as you can:
He completed the job to the best of his ability.completewellCOLLOCATIONSMeanings 1 & 2adjectiveshigh/low/average abilitya group of low ability pupilspupil | Many of these students are of above average ability.studentbe | Children of high ability demand more absorbing tasks.childabsorbtaskgreat/considerable ability
He was a young man of great ability.be | These drawings required considerable ability on the part of the artist.drawingrequireremarkable/outstanding/exceptional ability
a writer of remarkable ability | The company aims to select people of outstanding ability.aim | his exceptional ability as a swimmermixed ability (=at different levels)
a mixed ability classmixuncanny ability (=an unusual ability that is difficult to explain)
He has an uncanny ability for spotting investment opportunities.havespotopportunitynatural ability (also
innate ability
formal) (=an ability that you are born with)
He didn't have the natural ability of his brother. | Babies have an innate ability to do simple maths.babymathphysical/athletic ability
He has considerable athletic ability.haveartistic/creative ability
You do not need to have any artistic ability.musical ability
Tim showed musical ability at an early age.showacting ability
Her acting abilities were obvious straightaway.actabilitybemental ability
The exercises are supposed to help you improve your mental ability.exercisebesupposeintellectual/academic ability
No one doubts his intellectual abilities.doubtability | A degree is evidence of your academic ability in a particular subject area.beverbal/linguistic ability (=language skills)
The test is intended to measure the children's linguistic ability.beintendchildmathematical ability
These students have a higher level of mathematical ability.studenthighproven ability (=that you have proved through your achievements)
Companies often value the proven ability and reliability of older employees.companyproveoldemployeeverbshave the ability to do something (also
possess the ability to do something
formal)
She has the ability to make people feel relaxed.haverelaxshow/demonstrate the ability to do something
a chance for candidates to demonstrate their abilitiescandidateabilitylack the ability to do something
As a young man, he lacked the ability to say no.lackphrasesa level of ability/ability level
The children were of the same age and ability level.childbea range of ability/ability range
There is a wide range of ability within the class.be | Disruptive behaviour is more prominent in the lower ability range.belowa test of ability/an ability test
Examinations are not always a good test of ability.examinationbe | The class was given a verbal ability test.begivean ability group (=a group that students are taught in, based on their level of ability)
Children are divided into different ability groups.childbedividegroup