unable
adjectiveinterjectionverbcommon in dialogue
- //ʌnˈeɪbl̩//
Not able; lacking a certain ability.
adjective
- 1
Not able; lacking a certain ability.
Are you unable to mind your own business or something?
Fulham switched off as Giggs took a quick corner to Valencia. He played it back to Giggs, whose cross was headed in by Nani with the lurking Rooney unable to add a touch.
Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. […] But the scandals kept coming, […]. A broad section of the political class now recognises the need for change but remains unable to see the necessity of a fundamental overhaul.
The train operating company owning group warned in early December that it was unable to publish its results for the year to July 3 2021, following an investigation into the running of Southeastern, which was stripped of its franchise in October [...].
Etymology
From Middle English unable, unabel, unhable, unhabil, equivalent to un- + able.
interjection
- 1
Indicating that a requested course of action is not possible to carry out.
"November three seven kilo, climb and maintain twelve thousand." "Unable, we have pressurization problems. Maintaining nine thousand."
verb
- 1
To render unable; to disable.
Etymology
From Middle English unablen, equivalent to un- + able.
Forms
- comparative
- unabler, more unable
- superlative
- unablest, most unable
- past tense
- unabled
- past participle
- unabled
- present participle
- unabling
- third person singular
- unables
unable · Not able; lacking a certain ability.
unacceptable · Unsatisfactory; not acceptable.unanimous · Based on unanimity, assent or agreement.unannounced · Not announced beforehand.