Meaning & use
unable
Last updated
UK/ʌnˈeɪbl/
US/ʌnˈeɪbl/
Meaning
adjectiveafter a verb
Not able to do something because you lack the skill, strength, time, or chance.
Grammar: Followed by to plus a base verb: unable to attend, not unable attending.
Patterns
- unable to do something
She was unable to attend the meeting because of illness.
The company was unable to pay its bills.
He felt unable to speak.
Common combinations
- unable to attend
- I am unable to attend the party.
- unable to cope
- The hospital was unable to cope with the number of patients.
- unable to sleep
- He was unable to sleep before the exam.
- unable to find
- We were unable to find the missing keys.
- remain unable
- Some patients remain unable to walk after the operation.
Synonyms and how they differ
- incapable
- Incapable suggests a lasting lack of ability, while unable can describe a temporary situation.
- powerless
- Powerless stresses lack of control or authority, while unable simply says something is not possible.
- can't
- Can't is the casual spoken form, whereas unable sounds formal and is common in writing.
- incompetent
- Incompetent is a criticism of a person's skill, which unable is not.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: unable or inability?
unable vs inability
Unable is an adjective describing a person, while inability is a noun: she was unable to go, but her inability to go was a problem.
Practice
Which sentence is correct?
Choose one answer.
Unable is followed by to and the base verb. The other options use the wrong pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unable”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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