Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [uhn-ey-buh l]
- /ʌnˈeɪ bəl/
- /ʌnˈeɪbl/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [uhn-ey-buh l]
- /ʌnˈeɪ bəl/
Definitions of unable word
- adjective unable lacking the necessary power, competence, etc., to accomplish some specified act: He was unable to swim. 1
- verbal expression unable be incapable of doing sth 1
- adjective unable can't 1
- adjective unable person 1
- adjective unable action, device 1
- adjective unable If you are unable to do something, it is impossible for you to do it, for example because you do not have the necessary skill or knowledge, or because you do not have enough time or money. 0
Information block about the term
Origin of unable
First appearance:
before 1350 One of the 20% oldest English words
Middle English word dating back to 1350-1400; See origin at un-1, able
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Unable
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
unable popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 96% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
unable usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for unable
adj unable
- all thumbs — clumsy
- anti-climactic — of, like, pertaining to, or expressing anticlimax.
- anticlimactic — of, having, or like an anticlimax
- appetent — having an eager longing or desire
- butter-fingered — a person who frequently drops things; clumsy person.
adjective unable
- forceless — Without force.
- impotent — not potent; lacking power or ability.
- inadept — Not adept.
- incompetent — not competent; lacking qualification or ability; incapable: an incompetent candidate.
- ineligible — not eligible; not permitted or suitable: Employees are ineligible in this contest.
Antonyms for unable
adj unable
- a-1 — noting a vessel regarded by a shipping-classification society as being equipped to the highest standard and with equipment maintained in first-class condition.
- a1 — in good health; physically fit
- able — Someone who is able is very clever or very good at doing something.
- adept — Someone who is adept at something can do it skilfully.
- adroit — Someone who is adroit is quick and skilful in their thoughts, behaviour, or actions.
adjective unable
- excellent — Used to indicate approval or pleasure.
- experienced — Having knowledge or skill in a particular field, especially a profession or job, gained over a period of time.
- warhorse — a horse used in war; charger.
- wieldy — readily wielded or managed, as in use or action.
Top questions with unable
- what does unable mean?
- what does unable to connect to server mean?
- why was japan unable to win the war in china?
- why is jack unable to kill the pig?
- why does my wii say unable to read disc?
- what is unable to connect to the proxy server?
- how to unable windows update?
- one who is unable to pay his debts?
- why is windows unable to format sd card?
- how to unable a disabled iphone?
- how to fix your computer was unable to start?
- why am i unable to sleep at night?
- what is the definition of unable?
- why am i unable to join a wifi network?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with u
- Words starting with un
- Words starting with una
- Words starting with unab
- Words starting with unabl
- Words starting with unable