unable

  • 1Unable — Un*a ble, a. Not able; not having sufficient strength, means, knowledge, skill, or the like; impotent weak; helpless; incapable; now usually followed by an infinitive or an adverbial phrase; as, unable for work; unable to bear fatigue. [1913… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2unable — I adjective defenseless, disabled, feckless, forceless, helpless, impotent, inadequate, incapable, incompetent, ineffective, inefficient, inept, inoperative, insufficient, lame, notable, powerless, unfit, unqualified, useless, worthless II index… …

    Law dictionary

  • 3unable — (adj.) late 14c., lacking in ability, incapable, from UN (Cf. un ) (1) not + ABLE (Cf. able). Modeled on O.Fr. inhabile or L. inhabilis …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4unable — [adj] not having talent, skill can’t cut it*, can’t hack it*, can’t make the grade*, clumsy, helpless, hog tied*, impotent, impuissant, inadequate, incapable, incapacitated, incompetent, ineffectual, inefficacious, inefficient, inept, inoperative …

    New thesaurus

  • 5unable — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ lacking the skill, means, or opportunity to do something …

    English terms dictionary

  • 6unable — [un ā′bəl] adj. 1. not able; lacking the ability, means, or power to do something 2. incompetent 3. helpless; feeble …

    English World dictionary

  • 7unable — adj. VERBS ▪ appear, be, feel, prove, seem ▪ become ▪ remain ▪ find yourself …

    Collocations dictionary

  • 8unable — un|a|ble [ ʌn eıbl ] adjective *** unable to do something FORMAL not able to do something. In ordinary speech can t do something is the more usual way of saying this: Some of the children were unable to read or write. feel unable to do something …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 9unable — adj. (cannot stand alone) unable to + inf. (she is unable to work today) * * * [ʌn eɪb(ə)l] (cannot stand alone) unable to + int. (she is unable to work today) …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 10unable — un|a|ble W2S3 [ʌnˈeıbəl] adj [not before noun] not able to do something →↑inability unable to do sth ▪ Lucy was unable to find out what had happened. ▪ Unable to sleep, I got up and made myself a drink …

    Dictionary of contemporary English