Meaning & use
ably
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Meaning
adverbformal
In a skillful, competent way; used to describe how well someone does something.
Grammar: Adverb modifying a verb: 'She ably answered the question.' It usually comes after the verb or before the main verb.
Patterns
- ably + verb
- verb + ably
She ably managed the project despite the tight deadline.
The team ably defended their title in the final match.
He ably answered all the questions during the interview.
Common combinations
- ably assisted
- The doctor was ably assisted by two nurses.
- ably led
- The company was ably led by its new CEO.
- ably performed
- The orchestra ably performed the difficult symphony.
Synonyms and how they differ
- competently
- Similar meaning, but 'competently' emphasizes meeting a standard, while 'ably' emphasizes skill and ability.
- skillfully
- Close in meaning, but 'skillfully' often suggests fine technique; 'ably' is more about general capability.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: ably or able?
ably vs able
'Able' is an adjective (e.g., 'She is able to swim'), while 'ably' is an adverb (e.g., 'She swam ably').
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
'Ably' is an adverb modifying the verb 'solved'. 'Able' is an adjective and cannot modify a verb; 'ability' is a noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ably”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.