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# ability

«ability» in Mova's school dictionary: **the power or skill to do something** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

noun (an ability, abilities)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Ability is the power or skill to do something. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ability/#m1)

2) An ability is a special talent, something a person is good at. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ability/#m2)

3) Ability can also mean how well someone can do something, as in «reading ability». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ability/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In school it is used for what pupils can do and how well: «ability to read», «to the best of your ability» (as well as you can). In science it describes what animals and plants can do: the ability to fly, see in the dark or change colour. In everyday life and stories it describes talents and powers, including superheroes' powers. «Disability» is the word for a condition that makes some things harder to do.

### examples

- Bats have the ability to find their way in the dark. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ability/#x1)
- She has a great ability to make people laugh. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ability/#x2)
- Do the test to the best of your ability. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ability/#x3)
- The ability to swim can save your life. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ability/#x4)
- Each superhero has a different special ability. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ability/#x5)
- Practice will improve your reading ability. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ability/#x6)
- Chameleons have the ability to change colour. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ability/#x7)
- Grateful for these favours, the animals determined to repay him to the best of their ability. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ability/#x8)

### note

Countable noun: an ability, many abilities. Followed by «to + verb»: «the ability to swim» (not «ability of swimming»). Opposite: inability. Adjective: able. Do not confuse with «capacity» (how much something can hold).

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «ability» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ability/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.