abilitya‧bil‧i‧ty /əˈbɪləti/ ●●● S2 W1 noun (plural abilities) 
the ability to walk The health center serves all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.2[countable, uncountable] someone’s level of skill at doing something: The test measures your mathematical ability. mixed ability classesof high/low etc ability students of average ability There are musicians of all abilities.somebody's abilities as something He showed his abilities as a leader.3to the best of your ability as well as you can: He completed the job to the best of his ability.GRAMMARAbility is followed by an infinitive with ‘to’, not by an -ing form. You say: · I admire his ability to listen. ✗Don’t say: I admire his ability of listening.Grammar guide ‒ NOUNSCOLLOCATIONS– Meanings 1 & 2adjectiveshigh/low/average ability· a group of low ability pupils· Many of these students are of above average ability.· Children of high ability demand more absorbing tasks.great/considerable ability· He was a young man of great ability.· These drawings required considerable ability on the part of the artist.remarkable/outstanding/exceptional ability· a writer of remarkable ability· The company aims to select people of outstanding ability.· his exceptional ability as a swimmermixed ability (=at different levels)· a mixed ability classuncanny ability (=an unusual ability that is difficult to explain)· He has an uncanny ability for spotting investment opportunities.natural 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.physical/athletic ability· He has considerable athletic ability.artistic/creative ability· You do not need to have any artistic ability.musical ability· Tim showed musical ability at an early age.acting ability· Her acting abilities were obvious straightaway.mental ability· The exercises are supposed to help you improve your mental ability.intellectual/academic ability· No one doubts his intellectual abilities.· A degree is evidence of your academic ability in a particular subject area.verbal/linguistic ability (=language skills)· The test is intended to measure the children's linguistic ability.mathematical ability· These students have a higher level of mathematical ability.proven ability (=that you have proved through your achievements)· Companies often value the proven ability and reliability of older employees.verbshave the ability to do something (also possess the ability to do something formal)· She has the ability to make people feel relaxed.show/demonstrate the ability to do something· a chance for candidates to demonstrate their abilitieslack the ability to do something· As a young man, he lacked the ability to say no.phrasesa level of ability/ability level· The children were of the same age and ability level.a range of ability/ability range· There is a wide range of ability within the class.· Disruptive behaviour is more prominent in the lower ability range.a test of ability/an ability test· Examinations are not always a good test of ability.· The class was given a verbal ability test.an ability group (=a group that students are taught in, based on their level of ability)· Children are divided into different ability groups.
WORD ORIGINability
Origin:
1400-1500 Old French habilité, from Latin habilitas, from habilis; ➔ ABLEEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Even children of above-average ability are not always ready to begin school.
- leadership ability
- Luckily, she had innate ability to judge people quickly and accurately.
- Maria will be a fine musician; she shows a lot of ability.
- No one doubts his ability to get work done quickly.
- Our ability to think and speak makes us different from other animals.
- The children are divided into groups according to their reading ability.
- The course material depends on the level of ability of the student.
- But her colleagues and superiors could not fault her dedication to the job, speaking highly of her nursing ability.
- Communism failed and capitalism will falter if we do not give people the ability to make their dreams come true.
- For the regime, the fact that it presided over a cowed, debilitated populace enhanced its ability to remain in power.
- I think that a compelling vision combined with a unique ability to manage risk is the magic behind successful entrepreneurs.
- Indeed, the use of electronic documentation systems should enhance a organisation's ability to maintain full and accurate records.
- Stepping is a structured exercise class with an ability level for everyone.
- You have been given the ability to recognise your own apprehensions, to accept them and then to let them go.
Longman Language Activatorthe ability to do something
the physical or mental skill or knowledge that makes you able to do something: · The course material depends on the level of ability of the student.ability to do something: · Our ability to think and speak makes us different from other animals.· Luckily, she had innate ability to judge people quickly and accurately.somebody's abilities as a teacher/doctor etc: · Harmon decided to create a business out of his abilities as a speaker.
the ability of a person, machine etc to do something, especially something difficult that needs a lot of knowledge, skill, advanced equipment etc: · Man Ray explored the capabilities of the camera to their fullest extent.capability to do something: · It is unclear whether the country has the capability to produce nuclear weapons.capability of doing something: · This computer system gives the user the capability of accessing huge amounts of data.
use this especially about a very great ability to do something or to behave in a particular way: capacity for: · He has an enormous capacity for hard work.· Cheryl's capacity for understanding and compassion is impressive.capacity to do something: · Children have a remarkable capacity to learn language.
a special ability that you need to learn in order to do a particular job or activity: · These exercises develop the student's reading and writing skills.· You need computer skills for most office jobs.· Being a good manager requires a number of highly specialized skills.
the ability and skill to do what is needed: · The level of competence among hospital staff was not as high as expected.· Understanding the instructions requires a ninth grade reading competence.
a natural ability to do something, especially to see, hear, speak etc: the power of sight/speech/hearing etc: · She was so surprised that for a few seconds she lost the power of speech.· The ostrich is a bird that no longer has the power of flight.power to do something: · Doctors cannot explain why some people lack the power to fight off the disease.
: powers of judgement/reasoning/persuasion etc the ability to do something that involves mental effort or skill, such as persuading, forming an opinion, thinking etc: · This problem is designed to test your powers of observation.· Teachers have the responsibility to develop students' powers of critical thinking.· She impressed us all with her dazzling intellectual powers.
the natural abilities that everyone normally has, for example the ability to think, see, hear, and speak: · As we age we begin to lose some of our faculties.in full possession of your faculties: · Although he was dying, he remained in full possession of his faculties.
qualities such as courage and a strong mind that you need in order to deal with a difficult situation: · She's tough - I'm sure she has the emotional resources to handle it.· The new work stretches the physical resources of the company's dancers.
the natural ability that someone has to learn a new subject or activity and become good at it: · A trainee with normal aptitude can learn these techniques in a few months.aptitude for: · At an early age Susan showed an aptitude for languages.aptitude test: · All applicants are given aptitude tests before being invited for interview.
to be able to do something · "I don't think Mike can type." "Yes, he can."can do something · He can run faster than me.· Can you see the TV, or should I move?· This program can translate your e-mail into other languages.· How many hamburgers do you think you can eat?· Adrian could read when he was four.· If we had a boat we could row across to the island.· Why didn't they ask me? I could have done it for them for half the price.
if you are able to do something, you can do it - use this especially about something that needs a lot of effort, skill, or knowledge: · Those bags look really heavy - are you sure you'll be able to carry them on your own?· After the accident it was a long time before she was able to walk again.· To take the class, you have to be able to use a computer.be able to: · My grandpa's getting old now and he can't do all the things he used to be able to.
to have the ability, energy, or qualities needed to do something, especially something very difficult or unusual - use this about people or machines: · He's a very angry kid, but he's not capable of murder.be capable of doing something: · The missiles are capable of travelling about 700 miles.· Around 7 or 8, children are already capable of making their own moral evaluations.be perfectly capable of doing something (=used to emphasize that you are definitely capable of doing something): · Leave the boy alone, I'm sure he's perfectly capable of fixing it himself.
to be able to do something, especially something that is unusual or that most people cannot do: · She seemed to have the ability to make people do anything she wanted.· I believe the team definitely has the ability to win the championship.
to be able to do something, especially to deal with a particular problem, because you have been properly prepared or had the right training: · By the end of the course, students should be equipped to deal with any business situation.· The emergency services are well equipped to cope with disasters of this kind.
to have the ability and the qualities of character needed to do something difficult, especially when you or other people doubt that you can do it: · I admired the way you refused to let him bully you - I didn't think you had it in you.have it in you to do something: · No one thought I would win, but I knew I had it in me to do it if I really tried.
to be able to do something, because you know a way of a doing it, especially something practical such as operating a machine: · Do you know how to use this computer?· I'd turn the thing off if only I knew how.
to have enough knowledge, money, or equipment to do something: · Once the loan is paid off, Jones will be in a position to run the casino himself.· We will have to run more tests before we are in a position to say whether the document is authentic or not.be in a good/excellent/better position to do something: · When I've read the whole report I'll be in a better position to comment.
the ability to do something well the ability to do something well especially because you have learned and practised it: · Most of us learn the knowledge and skills needed to drive a car fairly easily.· The Australians played with great skill and determination.computer/management/language etc skills: · You need good communication skills for this job.skill in: · On the course you will develop skills in business management.with skill: · Price handles the role of the angry wife with great skill.
the ability to do something well, either because you have learned how to do it or because you are naturally good at it: · Maria will be a fine musician; she shows a lot of ability.ability to do something: · No one doubts his ability to get work done quickly.spelling/reading/writing etc ability (=the level of ability in spelling, reading etc): · The children are divided into groups according to their reading ability.
a natural ability to do something very well: · John Lennon's talent as a songwriter was matched by McCartney's talent as a composer.have a talent for doing something: · Porter has a talent for making a difficult subject understandable and interesting.talent for: · Teachers soon recognized and encouraged his talent for sculpture.hidden talents (=ones that people do not know about): · I never knew you were so good at making speeches. Do you have any other hidden talents?
a special ability to do something very well and in a way that shows a lot of imagination: · Being a good salesman requires skill, flair, and a good knowledge of your product.· One of the best new players, he shows flair and creativity at the game.have a flair for something: · If you have a flair for languages, there are some good career opportunities in Europe.
to have a special skill or ability that you usually gain by practice: have a knack for doing something: · She has a knack for making everyone feel comfortable and relaxed.have a knack for: · The family seems to have a knack for success in business.
the special skill that someone uses to make something beautiful with their hands: · Hopi baskets are beautiful in both color and craftsmanship.· Fabergé eggs are famous for their intricate craftsmanship.
to try as hard as you can · Come on, try as hard as you can!· I tried as hard as I could, but I still couldn't get everything into one suitcase.try as hard as you can to do something · She tried as hard as she could to look interested.
to try as hard as you can, even when the situation is difficult and you are not sure if you will succeed: · I don't know if I'll manage to get everything finished by Friday, but I'll certainly do my best.do/try your best to do something: · Harry did his best to sound calm, but it was obvious that he was really annoyed.· She tried her best not to laugh.
to try as hard as you can to do something, even though it is difficult or you do not have enough time, money etc to do it really well: · It's a very tough exam but just do the best you can.· More medical supplies will be arriving next week -- until then, doctors and nurses must do the best they can.do the best you can to do something: · I did the best I could to make him change his mind, but he refused.
informal to do everything possible to make an event, celebration, competition etc successful: · They gave me a great leaving party - they really pulled out all the stops.· If we pull out all the stops we should still be able to meet our deadline.
informal to try to do something as well as you can, even though you do not have all the necessary skills or equipment: · I'm not promising I'll succeed, but I'll give it my best shot.
to try as much as you possibly can, and for as long as possible, to achieve something very difficult: · We have done our utmost. There is no more we could possibly do.do your utmost to do something: · The Secretary of State assured reporters that the Administration was doing its utmost to avoid war.
to use every possible method to try to do something: · I'm trying to help -- I'm doing everything I possibly can.· I did everything I could to raise money, including selling my house.· Her mother did all she could to encourage Tracy to study medicine.
to use all your energy and determination to achieve something that is personally very important to you: · She gave her all in the last race, but it wasn't quite good enough to win.
if you do something as best you can , especially something difficult or unpleasant, you try as hard as you can to do it because you cannot change the situation: · I cleaned the car up as best I could, but it still looked a mess.· We'll have to manage as best we can without you.
if you do something to the best of your ability , you do it as well as you can, even if you are not sure that you are doing it very well: · I have always done my work to the best of my ability.· All the children competed and performed to the best of their ability.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Meanings 1 & 2adjectives a job that requires considerable intellectual effortCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· a group of low ability pupils· Many of these students are of above average ability.· Children of high ability demand more absorbing tasks.
· He was a young man of great ability.· These drawings required considerable ability on the part of the artist.
· a writer of remarkable ability· The company aims to select people of outstanding ability.· his exceptional ability as a swimmer
(=at different levels)· a mixed ability class
(=an unusual ability that is difficult to explain)· He has an uncanny ability for spotting investment opportunities.
(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.
· He has considerable athletic ability.
· You do not need to have any artistic ability.
· Tim showed musical ability at an early age.
· Her acting abilities were obvious straightaway.
· The exercises are supposed to help you improve your mental ability.
· No one doubts his intellectual abilities.· A degree is evidence of your academic ability in a particular subject area.
(=language skills)· The test is intended to measure the children's linguistic ability.
· These students have a higher level of mathematical ability.
(=that you have proved through your achievements)· Companies often value the proven ability and reliability of older employees.
verbs (also possess the ability to do something formal)· She has the ability to make people feel relaxed.
· a chance for candidates to demonstrate their abilities
· As a young man, he lacked the ability to say no.
phrases· The children were of the same age and ability level.
· There is a wide range of ability within the class.· Disruptive behaviour is more prominent in the lower ability range.
· Examinations are not always a good test of ability.· The class was given a verbal ability test.
(=a group that students are taught in, based on their level of ability)· Children are divided into different ability groups.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· The bears' survival will depend on their ability to cope with a changing environment.
· He showed exceptional talent even as a youngster.
a job that requires considerable intellectual effort· She had always been defined by her athletic ability, and without it she was lost.· Mostly because of his defense and athletic ability, his playing time has increased the last two weeks.· The researchers estimated Diatryma's athletic ability as quite adequate to catch most of the contemporary mammals.· In everything from athletic ability to popularity appearance, brains, and clothes, children rank themselves against others.· Serious cases of pneumonia can leave damaged areas in the lungs which can affect future athletic ability.· But they are not allowed to make money from their athletic ability or reputation.· And he has a lot of athletic ability.· Young Joe possessed minimal athletic ability and was developing into an overweight child.
· This sentiment was repeated a few years later by the Newsom Report in relation to average ability working-class adolescents.· Most of the remainder are in the 40-70 range, with the highest grades reaching almost average mental ability.· Most students, by definition, will be of average ability, with a smaller number below average.· There is another approach to the problem of maintaining speed throughout the roll which is used by those of above average ability.
· Gould discovered in this hardy, middle-aged explorer, a man of great charm and great ornithological ability.· He has great ability, and he can really charm you.· Young women of this age show a high regard for each other's individuality and a greater ability to tolerate differences.· And both boys and girls with involved fathers demonstrate a greater ability to take initiative and direct themselves.· His decision encouraged many of us, for he was a man of great integrity as well as ability.· A lot of times guys with great ability take some plays off.· He was a man of great energy, ability and ruthlessness.· They have a great ability to survive in subdued light.
· He says he wanted to find out if he had the intellectual ability to complete a degree starting from nothing.· Almost all of the identified work-inhibited students had average to superior intellectual ability scores.· Relaxation or withdrawal of treatment before mid-childhood has been associated with a further decline in intellectual ability.· Only one student had a score that fell below the average range, and most had above-average intellectual ability scores.· He combined outstanding intellectual ability with a vigorous, highly disciplined, and formidable personality.· Mills refers to this intellectual ability as a certain flexibility or quality of the mind.· It is difficult to conceive of such thinking taking place without the growth and development of intellectual ability.· The issue of intellectual ability is especially important when considering the prevalence of mild dementia.
· The Princess, he declared, was' very accomplished, a very sensitive player and shows great musical ability.· Because the music is simple, repetitive and easily accessible to all, no great musical ability and no books are required.· Green was a ready judge of others' musical ability.· A nation of music lovers mourns ... Despite his lack of musical ability, Gedge became interested in writing songs.· The growth of instrumental tuition in schools means that large numbers of children with some musical ability are available to be recruited.
· Adam's natural ability impressed Jenny.· I took it to heart: There was something wrong with me, a natural ability lacking.· Patients are given highly diluted doses of natural substances which, say practitioners, boost the body's natural healing ability.· Your natural ability is the thing that should emerge, and if you have been well coached the coaching won't show.· Your lips have no natural moisturising ability so need frequent application of protective balm or stick.· He shared her natural ability to understand horses, her insight into how their minds worked.· He seems to have a natural ability which encourages plants to grow well.· I had a natural ability to entirely forget the theatre when at home, and viceversa, which was extremely useful.
VERB· Are past ground shakes affecting your ability to build faith for tomorrow?· A growing body of evidence shows that alcohol molecules directly affect the ability of ion channels to open or close.· The reduction in distributable reserves may, of course, affect the company's ability to pay future dividends.· Mineral, vitamin and blood-sugar levels have been repeatedly shown to affect ability to relax.· It affects the ability to remember, hear, think and reason.· Losses by candidates he has supported could affect his ability to extend his stay in power as Yugoslav president.· Conversely, the availability of different types of housing also affects the ability of persons and families forming separate households.· The county government had seen its operation lose customers and revenue, and this affected its ability to borrow money.
· It has lost none of its imaginative power or ability to communicate ideas.· Their ability to communicate unfolds in a sequence of stages, starting between about six months and eighteen months of age.· They are merely one method of making possible the ability to communicate out of which a community can grow.· The ability to communicate with the outside world proved to be the key to other, vital sponsorship.· Teaching is the ability to communicate effectively to the student or pupil, enabling learning to take place.· Earlier we noted that the ability to communicate could be considered a prerequisite for leadership.· Important personal traits for funeral directors are composure, tact, and the ability to communicate easily with the public.
· It has also shown that they are most effective in situations of crisis because of their ability to initiate and control social interactions.· This rewarded not production but the ability to control production.· Morphine and its related narcotics have proved extremely useful in their ability to control pain.· The ability to control our own fertility gives women choice and timing, as well as improved overall health.· The other facet of the relationship is the ability to control subordinates.· Expanded research is needed to better understand these events and enhance our ability to predict and control these infections.· Instructors can be mistaken about their students' ability to control the initial part properly if one or two launches go well.· Many people are negative about their ability to control their diet.
· An extravagant signal could be a general statement of a male's ability to cope.· Meanwhile doubts about the private banks' ability to cope caused mounting worries.· Yet, as Margaret Donaldson points out, the ability to cope with disembedded tasks is crucial to educational success.· Services should also aim to enhance the individual's own ability to cope with distress.· As a result she was renowned for her ability to cope patiently with awkward guests.· Coral species vary in their ability to cope with sediment.· It was a combination that destroyed his ability to cope with life, and he sought psychiatric help in 1950.· It's not only riding skills that count when considering a holiday, but the ability to cope in unfamiliar surroundings.
· His question-answering demonstrated an analytical ability, and respect for the questioner and for his audience.· Experiments have demonstrated the ability to reproduce classical conditioning phenomena and robot control simulations.· Reservoirs, wells and canals demonstrate the ability to regulate water supply.· And both boys and girls with involved fathers demonstrate a greater ability to take initiative and direct themselves.· By tying knots we demonstrate our knowledge and ability to deal with the powers of the world.· Compulsory competitive tendering will oblige local authorities to bring in managers who demonstrate their ability to deliver the best services to tenants.· Morihei Uyeshiba, the founder of aikido, often demonstrated his ability to elude attack in this way.
· Much will depend on the ability of the employer to offer you optimum conditions for job satisfaction.· Rather, they are relatively more attentive or less attentive depending on their ability to process information in a certain area.· The F-111s are ageing and their credibility as a deterrent depends upon their ability to penetrate increasingly sophisticated Soviet air defences.· The ability of the state to resolve these crises would depend on the states ability to raise revenue and mobilise public support.· However, effectiveness does depend on managers' ability to use the power they have to encourage others to join in.· The effectiveness of such a legal system depends upon its ability to express the rights, powers and interests of subordinate classes.· In this volatile atmosphere Thaksin's popularity and freedom of action will depend on his ability to achieve quick results.· The future - the very lives - of these children depend on our ability to reach them with vaccines and health education.
· By which is meant that they have developed their ability to focus both senses and mind upon a thought process.· During these years, the child develops the ability to apply logical thought to concrete problems in the present. 4.· He also developed the ability to sketch as he walked with his pad and pencil.· I had developed an ability to see things before they occurred.· This helps to develop empathy - the ability to see things from the other's point of view in addition to one's own.· And there are few opportunities for students to develop such ability before they enroll in those courses.· Some species of birds have developed the ability to distinguish between model and mimic and will feed on the imposters.· She developed an ability that remains as awesome today as ever.
· They admired his ability to handle an awkward bill in a café or fix lodgings for the night.· With a goal to our life, our ability to bear and handle the discomfort and pain is also increased.· We will now review evidence on children's ability to handle explanations in each mode.· Accuracy and the ability to handle responsibility with limited supervision are important.· It's an alien situation and I question his ability to handle it.· He has the ability to handle heated situations better than others.· An ability to handle air-sensitive compounds, although not essential, would be an advantage.· To her, Roz was uncanny in her ability to perform. handle outrageous situations, do.
· It is a great exercise to improve your ability to play to length.· Some tanks had a cutter bar mounted in front to improve their ability to move through jungle.· Martin learned to drive as his Skill project and improved on his swimming ability in the Physical Recreation section.· But he noted that federal agencies are working to improve their ability to predict space weather storms.· To increase the number of errors can sometimes improve the ability to respond to a challenge.· If you would like to improve your public-speaking ability join Toast-masters International.· Being well-dressed doesn't improve a person's ability to do accounts, or whatever.· Keeping hydrated improves the body's ability to trap and neutralize those microbes before they can gain a foothold.
· Capacity and other resource constraints which may limit the target's ability to respond to increases in demand.· Rule-based computers are limited in their ability to accommodate inaccuracies or fuzzy information.· This may limit the ability of these hospitals to meet their pledges of maximum inpatient waiting times of two years.· Some programs also offer users a limited ability to decide for themselves which sites to block.· Conceptual factors are those which limit our ability to draw conclusions from experiments, even if they are technically perfect.· Also, there are only two zoom levels, which limit your ability to view a particular area.· But others want to limit Washington's ability to buy its way out of its domestic obligations.· It also limits the ability of agency heads to compete successfully for high-skilled senior talent.
· With sufficient training, however, both stimuli will lose the ability to evoke attention.· Once your groin gets the upper hand, you lose the ability to reason.· Largely as a result, they had lost the ability to construct complex and resonant narratives.· And, more important, the military certainly has not lost its ability to fight and win wars because adultery is prohibited.· If you are low in stamina you will have lost your ability to get through the day without becoming over-tired.· Martha was alone with her husband as his paralysis spread, and as he lost the ability to swallow.· Damp affects down particularly badly causing the fluffy tendrils to clog together and lose the ability to insulate.· With them, the human race lost its ability to send astronauts to the Moon and beyond.
· Neither is fair, in the sense of being related to income, and thus ability to pay.· In the other; her ability to focus and pay attention is very strong.· It is not targeted at those in greatest need, because ability to pay will not be a factor.· But the ability to pay for safety nets is just one of the social effects of having an educated population.· The reduction in distributable reserves may, of course, affect the company's ability to pay future dividends.· It was the introduction of the new fourth resource which clearly injected the principle of ability to pay across all countries.· They are what economists call a rent, a surplus determined by our ability to pay.· Aside from those who can pay cash, ability to pay is an amalgam of income and mortgage interest rates.
· Particularly helpful is the ability to produce slick roughs, illustrating an idea or a copy line.· The promise of hypertext lies in its ability to produce large, complex, richly connected, and cross-referenced bodies of information.· Accuracy and steadiness under pressure are more important than the ability to produce the odd unplayable ball.· The ability to produce in greater quantities made this system wasteful and it has given way to a more scientific process.· For example, the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis has the ability to produce crystalline spores which act as natural insecticides.· Consequently, Muir believes, biotech fish could quickly decimate a fish population by their increased ability to produce damaged young.· Education may enhance the ability to produce justifications, rather than eliminate racism toutcourt.· Students often find that their ability to produce language which is appropriate for a particular situation is less than they had expected.
· Their ability to provide such capital may however be limited, and therefore high profits will be sought.· In the past, local hotlines have to the best of their ability provided only a patchwork quilt of assistance.· They have developed an ability to provide a chemical service to customers, rather than selling products in a bag.· Some people just seem to know, to have a grasp, and the ability to provide vision.· If this results in objections it may affect our ability to provide a shelter.· But they no longer define being a good father almost exclusively in terms of the ability to provide economically.· If our energy is not used, then our body's ability to provide energy is also lost.
· And it can reduce the business's ability to meet its commitments.· Besides increased miscarriage risk, the UC-Davis study also found a reduced ability to get pregnant linked to glycol ethers.· Although the mite rarely kills bees, it weakens and deforms them, reducing their ability to make honey.· Ill health can reduce the individual's ability to move due to motor or nervous problems.· Spontaneous resolution is likely to reduce the ability of any trial to show differences in the effect of treatment.· One person's reception of them does not reduce the ability of others to receive them.· This would reduce the ability of the living world to take up carbon dioxide.· He complained that it reduced his ability to walk around which was already somewhat restricted by arthritis.
· We can expect such systems to show varying degrees of ability to acclimatize.· We have not shown the ability to sell 15, 000-seat shows on a consistent basis.· In fact the anti-gold mining struggle has shown an ability to utilize a wide variety of cultural weapons in its campaign.· Gagne has shown an ability to play through pain.· He also showed marked ability as a conductor with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and as a composer.· Mineral, vitamin and blood-sugar levels have been repeatedly shown to affect ability to relax.· Uwaezuoke shows ability as a punt returner.
· The ability to understand the policy implications of research projects is a must.· With the infusion of resources into cancer research came an explosion in our ability to understand and manipulate the cancer cell.· While age is clearly a highly relevant factor it does not always accurately reflect ability to understand.· The first three chapters are concerned with various aspects of children's ability to understand language.· He shared her natural ability to understand horses, her insight into how their minds worked.· Our technical ability to make things and to pollute now far outstrips our ability to understand the processes we have unleashed.· Strengthened by his ability to understand the phenomenon of sound, early man became conscious of the creative power inherent in it.· Or whether mutually to reinforce their ability to perceive and understand this city - two viewpoints yielding a stereoscopic perspective.
· Finally, appraisal procedures must be established which monitor and enhance the individual's ability to work to maximum effectiveness.· They say she was also impressed with his ability to work with others.· A strong background in quantitative analysis, careful attention to detail and an ability to work to tight deadlines are essential skills.· In poor families, the ability to work and to earn income is usually the only asset people have.· However, when both have felt threatened by developments in the Middle East they have demonstrated their ability to work together.· More specifically, the ability to work with people.· The first thing, therefore, is to believe in yourself and in your ability to work with numbers.· Employees who work off-site are evaluated on their ability to work independently yet communicate with their team to meet goals.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- All the children competed and performed to the best of their ability.
- I have always done my work to the best of my ability.
WORD FAMILYnounability ≠ inabilitydisabilityadjectiveable ≠ unabledisabledverbenable ≠ disableadverbably
1[countable] the state of being able to do somethingability to do something the ability to walk The health center serves all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.2[countable, uncountable] someone’s level of skill at doing something: The test measures your mathematical ability. mixed ability classesof high/low etc ability students of average ability There are musicians of all abilities.somebody's abilities as something He showed his abilities as a leader.3to the best of your ability as well as you can: He completed the job to the best of his ability.GRAMMARAbility is followed by an infinitive with ‘to’, not by an -ing form. You say: · I admire his ability to listen. ✗Don’t say: I admire his ability of listening.Grammar guide ‒ NOUNSCOLLOCATIONS– Meanings 1 & 2adjectiveshigh/low/average ability· a group of low ability pupils· Many of these students are of above average ability.· Children of high ability demand more absorbing tasks.great/considerable ability· He was a young man of great ability.· These drawings required considerable ability on the part of the artist.remarkable/outstanding/exceptional ability· a writer of remarkable ability· The company aims to select people of outstanding ability.· his exceptional ability as a swimmermixed ability (=at different levels)· a mixed ability classuncanny ability (=an unusual ability that is difficult to explain)· He has an uncanny ability for spotting investment opportunities.natural 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.physical/athletic ability· He has considerable athletic ability.artistic/creative ability· You do not need to have any artistic ability.musical ability· Tim showed musical ability at an early age.acting ability· Her acting abilities were obvious straightaway.mental ability· The exercises are supposed to help you improve your mental ability.intellectual/academic ability· No one doubts his intellectual abilities.· A degree is evidence of your academic ability in a particular subject area.verbal/linguistic ability (=language skills)· The test is intended to measure the children's linguistic ability.mathematical ability· These students have a higher level of mathematical ability.proven ability (=that you have proved through your achievements)· Companies often value the proven ability and reliability of older employees.verbshave the ability to do something (also possess the ability to do something formal)· She has the ability to make people feel relaxed.show/demonstrate the ability to do something· a chance for candidates to demonstrate their abilitieslack the ability to do something· As a young man, he lacked the ability to say no.phrasesa level of ability/ability level· The children were of the same age and ability level.a range of ability/ability range· There is a wide range of ability within the class.· Disruptive behaviour is more prominent in the lower ability range.a test of ability/an ability test· Examinations are not always a good test of ability.· The class was given a verbal ability test.an ability group (=a group that students are taught in, based on their level of ability)· Children are divided into different ability groups.