unable
//ʌnˈeɪbl̩//
Forms
- Comparative
- unabler
- Superlative
- unablest
Definitions
1.Not able; lacking a certain ability.
- Are you unable to mind your own business or something?
- Fulham switched off as Giggs took a quick corner to Valencia. He played it back to Giggs, whose cross was headed in by Nani with the lurking Rooney unable to add a touch.
1.Indicating that a requested course of action is not possible to carry out.
- "November three seven kilo, climb and maintain twelve thousand." "Unable, we have pressurization problems. Maintaining nine thousand."
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #2325
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
From Middle English unable, unabel, unhable, unhabil, equivalent to un- + able.