abil·i·ty
Pronounced:
/əˈbɪləti/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural abil·i·tiesMeaning:
: the power or skill to do something [count] ▪ a young woman with many remarkable musical/artistic/athletic abilities —often followed by to + verb ▪ a teacher with an ability to inspire his students ▪ Does he have the ability [=authority] to fire employees? ▪ a writer's ability [=capability, capacity] to interest readers [noncount] ▪ a young woman of great musical/artistic/athletic ability ▪ She has shown some ability with foreign languages. ▪ He always works to the best of his ability. [=as well as he can]