"unable" meaning in English

See unable in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

IPA: /ʌnˈeɪbəl/ Audio: en-us-unable.ogg Forms: unabler [comparative], more unable [comparative], unablest [superlative], most unable [superlative]
Rhymes: -eɪbəl Etymology: From Middle English unable, unabel, unhable, unhabil, equivalent to un- + able. Etymology templates: {{inh|en|enm|unable}} Middle English unable, {{prefix|en|un|able|id1=negative}} un- + able Head templates: {{en-adj|er|more}} unable (comparative unabler or more unable, superlative unablest or most unable)
  1. Not able; lacking a certain ability. Derived forms: be unable to believe one's eyes, unable to can Related terms: inability Translations (not able): عَاجِز (ʕājiz) (Arabic), неспосо́бен (nesposóben) (Bulgarian), incapaç (Catalan), 不能 (bù néng) (note: different words for "able" - see entries) (Chinese Mandarin), 不能夠 (Chinese Mandarin), 不能够 (bù nénggòu) (Chinese Mandarin), 不会 (bù huì) (Chinese Mandarin), 不可以 (bù kěyǐ) (Chinese Mandarin), neschopný (Czech), niet in staat (Dutch), onbekwaam (Dutch), senpova (Esperanto), nekapabla (Esperanto), kykenemätön (Finnish), kyvytön (Finnish), incapable (French), შეუძლებელი (šeuʒlebeli) (Georgian), უძლური (uʒluri) (Georgian), unfähig (German), außerstanden (German), ανίκανος (aníkanos) (Greek), nekapabla (Ido), incapace (Italian), tē taea (Maori), incapaz (Portuguese), incapabil (Romanian), neputincios (Romanian), incompetent (Romanian), неспосо́бный (nesposóbnyj) (Russian), incapaz (Spanish), impotente (Spanish), oförmögen (Swedish)
    Sense id: en-unable-en-adj-iHL95Pcy Categories (other): English terms prefixed with un- (negative) Disambiguation of English terms prefixed with un- (negative): 49 51
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 1

Interjection

IPA: /ʌnˈeɪbəl/ Audio: en-us-unable.ogg
Rhymes: -eɪbəl Etymology: From Middle English unable, unabel, unhable, unhabil, equivalent to un- + able. Etymology templates: {{inh|en|enm|unable}} Middle English unable, {{prefix|en|un|able|id1=negative}} un- + able Head templates: {{en-interj}} unable
  1. (aviation) Indicating that a requested course of action is not possible to carry out. Categories (topical): Aviation
    Sense id: en-unable-en-intj--JscZm-I Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English terms prefixed with un- (negative), English terms prefixed with un- (reversive), Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Arabic translations, Terms with Bulgarian translations, Terms with Catalan translations, Terms with Czech translations, Terms with Dutch translations, Terms with Esperanto translations, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with Georgian translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Greek translations, Terms with Ido translations, Terms with Italian translations, Terms with Maori translations, Terms with Portuguese translations, Terms with Romanian translations, Terms with Russian translations, Terms with Spanish translations, Terms with Swedish translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 32 60 9 Disambiguation of English terms prefixed with un- (negative): 49 51 Disambiguation of English terms prefixed with un- (reversive): 36 52 12 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 18 82 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 21 69 9 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 28 67 4 Disambiguation of Terms with Arabic translations: 31 69 Disambiguation of Terms with Bulgarian translations: 31 69 Disambiguation of Terms with Catalan translations: 33 67 Disambiguation of Terms with Czech translations: 44 56 Disambiguation of Terms with Dutch translations: 29 71 Disambiguation of Terms with Esperanto translations: 32 68 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 28 72 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 26 74 Disambiguation of Terms with Georgian translations: 29 71 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 28 72 Disambiguation of Terms with Greek translations: 25 75 Disambiguation of Terms with Ido translations: 28 72 Disambiguation of Terms with Italian translations: 28 72 Disambiguation of Terms with Maori translations: 33 67 Disambiguation of Terms with Portuguese translations: 38 62 Disambiguation of Terms with Romanian translations: 31 69 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 28 72 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 23 77 Disambiguation of Terms with Swedish translations: 33 67 Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 1

Verb

IPA: /ʌnˈeɪbəl/ Audio: en-us-unable.ogg Forms: unables [present, singular, third-person], unabling [participle, present], unabled [participle, past], unabled [past]
Rhymes: -eɪbəl Etymology: From Middle English unablen, equivalent to un- + able. Etymology templates: {{inh|en|enm|unablen}} Middle English unablen, {{af|en|un-<id:reversive>|able}} un- + able Head templates: {{en-verb}} unable (third-person singular simple present unables, present participle unabling, simple past and past participle unabled)
  1. (transitive, nonstandard) To render unable; to disable. Tags: nonstandard, transitive
    Sense id: en-unable-en-verb-Xi7ICuVC
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 2

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "word": "able"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "unable"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English unable",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "un",
        "3": "able",
        "id1": "negative"
      },
      "expansion": "un- + able",
      "name": "prefix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English unable, unabel, unhable, unhabil, equivalent to un- + able.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "unabler",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "more unable",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "unablest",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most unable",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "er",
        "2": "more"
      },
      "expansion": "unable (comparative unabler or more unable, superlative unablest or most unable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "49 51",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms prefixed with un- (negative)",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "derived": [
        {
          "word": "be unable to believe one's eyes"
        },
        {
          "word": "unable to can"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Are you unable to mind your own business or something?",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2011 December 21, Tom Rostance, “Fulham 0-5 Man Utd”, in BBC Sport:",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2013 June 28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21:",
          "text": "Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. […] But the scandals kept coming, […]. A broad section of the political class now recognises the need for change but remains unable to see the necessity of a fundamental overhaul.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2022 January 12, “Network News: Trading of Go-Ahead Group shares halted”, in RAIL, number 948, page 7:",
          "text": "The train operating company owning group warned in early December that it was unable to publish its results for the year to July 3 2021, following an investigation into the running of Southeastern, which was stripped of its franchise in October [...].",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Not able; lacking a certain ability."
      ],
      "id": "en-unable-en-adj-iHL95Pcy",
      "links": [
        [
          "able",
          "able"
        ],
        [
          "ability",
          "ability"
        ]
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "word": "inability"
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "code": "ar",
          "lang": "Arabic",
          "roman": "ʕājiz",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "عَاجِز"
        },
        {
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "nesposóben",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "неспосо́бен"
        },
        {
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "incapaç"
        },
        {
          "code": "zh",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "note": "different words for \"able\" - see entries",
          "roman": "bù néng",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "不能"
        },
        {
          "code": "zh",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "不能夠"
        },
        {
          "code": "zh",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "bù nénggòu",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "不能够"
        },
        {
          "code": "zh",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "bù huì",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "不会"
        },
        {
          "code": "zh",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "bù kěyǐ",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "不可以"
        },
        {
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "neschopný"
        },
        {
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "niet in staat"
        },
        {
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "onbekwaam"
        },
        {
          "code": "eo",
          "lang": "Esperanto",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "senpova"
        },
        {
          "code": "eo",
          "lang": "Esperanto",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "nekapabla"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "kykenemätön"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "kyvytön"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "incapable"
        },
        {
          "code": "ka",
          "lang": "Georgian",
          "roman": "šeuʒlebeli",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "შეუძლებელი"
        },
        {
          "code": "ka",
          "lang": "Georgian",
          "roman": "uʒluri",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "უძლური"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "unfähig"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "außerstanden"
        },
        {
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "aníkanos",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "ανίκανος"
        },
        {
          "code": "io",
          "lang": "Ido",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "nekapabla"
        },
        {
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "incapace"
        },
        {
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "tē taea"
        },
        {
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "incapaz"
        },
        {
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "incapabil"
        },
        {
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "neputincios"
        },
        {
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "incompetent"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "nesposóbnyj",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "неспосо́бный"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "incapaz"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "impotente"
        },
        {
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "not able",
          "word": "oförmögen"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ʌnˈeɪbəl/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-unable.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/d/d2/En-us-unable.ogg/En-us-unable.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/En-us-unable.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-eɪbəl"
    }
  ],
  "word": "unable"
}

{
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "unable"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English unable",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "un",
        "3": "able",
        "id1": "negative"
      },
      "expansion": "un- + able",
      "name": "prefix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English unable, unabel, unhable, unhabil, equivalent to un- + able.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "unable",
      "name": "en-interj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "intj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Aviation",
          "orig": "en:Aviation",
          "parents": [
            "Aeronautics",
            "Transport",
            "Sciences",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "32 60 9",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "49 51",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms prefixed with un- (negative)",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "36 52 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms prefixed with un- (reversive)",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "18 82",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "21 69 9",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 67 4",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "31 69",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Arabic translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "31 69",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "33 67",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Catalan translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "44 56",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Czech translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "29 71",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Dutch translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "32 68",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Esperanto translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 72",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "26 74",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with French translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "29 71",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Georgian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 72",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with German translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "25 75",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Greek translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 72",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Ido translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 72",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Italian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "33 67",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Maori translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "38 62",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Portuguese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "31 69",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Romanian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 72",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Russian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 77",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "33 67",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Swedish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "\"November three seven kilo, climb and maintain twelve thousand.\" \"Unable, we have pressurization problems. Maintaining nine thousand.\"",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Indicating that a requested course of action is not possible to carry out."
      ],
      "id": "en-unable-en-intj--JscZm-I",
      "links": [
        [
          "aviation",
          "aviation"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(aviation) Indicating that a requested course of action is not possible to carry out."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "aeronautics",
        "aerospace",
        "aviation",
        "business",
        "engineering",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ʌnˈeɪbəl/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-unable.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/d/d2/En-us-unable.ogg/En-us-unable.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/En-us-unable.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-eɪbəl"
    }
  ],
  "word": "unable"
}

{
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "unablen"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English unablen",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "un-<id:reversive>",
        "3": "able"
      },
      "expansion": "un- + able",
      "name": "af"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English unablen, equivalent to un- + able.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "unables",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "unabling",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "unabled",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "unabled",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "unable (third-person singular simple present unables, present participle unabling, simple past and past participle unabled)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "To render unable; to disable."
      ],
      "id": "en-unable-en-verb-Xi7ICuVC",
      "links": [
        [
          "render",
          "render"
        ],
        [
          "unable",
          "#Adjective"
        ],
        [
          "disable",
          "disable"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, nonstandard) To render unable; to disable."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "nonstandard",
        "transitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ʌnˈeɪbəl/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-unable.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/d/d2/En-us-unable.ogg/En-us-unable.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/En-us-unable.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-eɪbəl"
    }
  ],
  "word": "unable"
}
{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "word": "able"
    }
  ],
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English interjections",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "English terms prefixed with un- (negative)",
    "English terms prefixed with un- (reversive)",
    "English verbs",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/eɪbəl",
    "Rhymes:English/eɪbəl/3 syllables",
    "Terms with Arabic translations",
    "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
    "Terms with Catalan translations",
    "Terms with Czech translations",
    "Terms with Dutch translations",
    "Terms with Esperanto translations",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with Georgian translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Greek translations",
    "Terms with Ido translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Maori translations",
    "Terms with Portuguese translations",
    "Terms with Romanian translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with Swedish translations"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "be unable to believe one's eyes"
    },
    {
      "word": "unable to can"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "unable"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English unable",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "un",
        "3": "able",
        "id1": "negative"
      },
      "expansion": "un- + able",
      "name": "prefix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English unable, unabel, unhable, unhabil, equivalent to un- + able.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "unabler",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "more unable",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "unablest",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most unable",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "er",
        "2": "more"
      },
      "expansion": "unable (comparative unabler or more unable, superlative unablest or most unable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "inability"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Are you unable to mind your own business or something?",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2011 December 21, Tom Rostance, “Fulham 0-5 Man Utd”, in BBC Sport:",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2013 June 28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21:",
          "text": "Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. […] But the scandals kept coming, […]. A broad section of the political class now recognises the need for change but remains unable to see the necessity of a fundamental overhaul.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2022 January 12, “Network News: Trading of Go-Ahead Group shares halted”, in RAIL, number 948, page 7:",
          "text": "The train operating company owning group warned in early December that it was unable to publish its results for the year to July 3 2021, following an investigation into the running of Southeastern, which was stripped of its franchise in October [...].",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Not able; lacking a certain ability."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "able",
          "able"
        ],
        [
          "ability",
          "ability"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ʌnˈeɪbəl/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-unable.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/d/d2/En-us-unable.ogg/En-us-unable.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/En-us-unable.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-eɪbəl"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "ar",
      "lang": "Arabic",
      "roman": "ʕājiz",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "عَاجِز"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "nesposóben",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "неспосо́бен"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "incapaç"
    },
    {
      "code": "zh",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "note": "different words for \"able\" - see entries",
      "roman": "bù néng",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "不能"
    },
    {
      "code": "zh",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "不能夠"
    },
    {
      "code": "zh",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "bù nénggòu",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "不能够"
    },
    {
      "code": "zh",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "bù huì",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "不会"
    },
    {
      "code": "zh",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "bù kěyǐ",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "不可以"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "neschopný"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "niet in staat"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "onbekwaam"
    },
    {
      "code": "eo",
      "lang": "Esperanto",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "senpova"
    },
    {
      "code": "eo",
      "lang": "Esperanto",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "nekapabla"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "kykenemätön"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "kyvytön"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "incapable"
    },
    {
      "code": "ka",
      "lang": "Georgian",
      "roman": "šeuʒlebeli",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "შეუძლებელი"
    },
    {
      "code": "ka",
      "lang": "Georgian",
      "roman": "uʒluri",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "უძლური"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "unfähig"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "außerstanden"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "aníkanos",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "ανίκανος"
    },
    {
      "code": "io",
      "lang": "Ido",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "nekapabla"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "incapace"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "tē taea"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "incapaz"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "incapabil"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "neputincios"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "incompetent"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "nesposóbnyj",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "неспосо́бный"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "incapaz"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "impotente"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "not able",
      "word": "oförmögen"
    }
  ],
  "word": "unable"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English interjections",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "English terms prefixed with un- (negative)",
    "English terms prefixed with un- (reversive)",
    "English verbs",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/eɪbəl",
    "Rhymes:English/eɪbəl/3 syllables",
    "Terms with Arabic translations",
    "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
    "Terms with Catalan translations",
    "Terms with Czech translations",
    "Terms with Dutch translations",
    "Terms with Esperanto translations",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with Georgian translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Greek translations",
    "Terms with Ido translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Maori translations",
    "Terms with Portuguese translations",
    "Terms with Romanian translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with Swedish translations"
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "unable"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English unable",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "un",
        "3": "able",
        "id1": "negative"
      },
      "expansion": "un- + able",
      "name": "prefix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English unable, unabel, unhable, unhabil, equivalent to un- + able.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "unable",
      "name": "en-interj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "intj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "en:Aviation"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "\"November three seven kilo, climb and maintain twelve thousand.\" \"Unable, we have pressurization problems. Maintaining nine thousand.\"",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Indicating that a requested course of action is not possible to carry out."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "aviation",
          "aviation"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(aviation) Indicating that a requested course of action is not possible to carry out."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "aeronautics",
        "aerospace",
        "aviation",
        "business",
        "engineering",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ʌnˈeɪbəl/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-unable.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/d/d2/En-us-unable.ogg/En-us-unable.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/En-us-unable.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-eɪbəl"
    }
  ],
  "word": "unable"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "English terms prefixed with un- (reversive)",
    "English verbs",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/eɪbəl",
    "Rhymes:English/eɪbəl/3 syllables"
  ],
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "unablen"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English unablen",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "un-<id:reversive>",
        "3": "able"
      },
      "expansion": "un- + able",
      "name": "af"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English unablen, equivalent to un- + able.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "unables",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "unabling",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "unabled",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "unabled",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "unable (third-person singular simple present unables, present participle unabling, simple past and past participle unabled)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English nonstandard terms",
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To render unable; to disable."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "render",
          "render"
        ],
        [
          "unable",
          "#Adjective"
        ],
        [
          "disable",
          "disable"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, nonstandard) To render unable; to disable."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "nonstandard",
        "transitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ʌnˈeɪbəl/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-unable.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/d/d2/En-us-unable.ogg/En-us-unable.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/En-us-unable.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-eɪbəl"
    }
  ],
  "word": "unable"
}

Download raw JSONL data for unable meaning in English (10.9kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-12-21 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-12-04 using wiktextract (d8cb2f3 and 4e554ae). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.