「UNABLE」の定義と意味 | Dictionary.com

UNABLE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com Synonyms unable American [uhn- ey -b uh l] / ʌnˈeɪ bəl / adjective lacking the necessary power, competence, etc., to accomplish some specified act. He was unable to swim. unable British / ʌnˈeɪbəl / adjective lacking the necessary power, ability, or authority (to do something); not able archaic incompetent "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Related Words See incapable . Etymology Origin of unable First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; un- 1 + able Explanation If you're unable to do something, you just can't do it. This isn't necessarily a bad thing! You may be unable to tell a lie, no matter how much you want to blame your brother for breaking that window. When we're unable, we're incapable. If you're unable to speak French, but you speak German fluently, you might choose to spend the summer in Berlin rather than Quebec City. And when your neighbor is unable to walk her dog during the day, you could volunteer to walk it after school. Being unable is either "lacking ability," or "lacking power." Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com Example Sentences Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com. "All ticketds will remain valid for the new date. Customers who are unable to attend will be entitled to a refund." From BBC • May 6, 2026 It’s been derided as unwieldy and ugly and unable to match other pickups in basic functionality. From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026 Caine said there are currently "22,500 mariners embarked on more than 1,550 commercial vessels trapped in the Arabian Gulf, unable to transit." From Barron's • May 5, 2026 Many farmers are still waiting on loans, unable to lock in fertilizer prices before they spiked. From MarketWatch • May 4, 2026 After I turned off my system, I sat there for several minutes, unable to stop thinking about the conversation that had just happened. From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows Related Words helpless impotent inadequate incapable not able powerless sidelined unfit weak Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023 Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.