Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
What is able?
• Free from constraints preventing completion of task; permitted to; not prevented from.
• Gifted with skill, intelligence, knowledge, or competence.
• Legally qualified or competent.
• Capable of performing all the requisite duties; as an able seaman.
• Having the physical strength; robust; healthy.
• Easy to use.
• Suitable; competent.
• Liable to.
• Rich; well-to-do.
(Verb) To make ready.
• To make capable; to enable.
• To dress.
• To give power to; to reinforce; to confirm.
• To vouch for; to guarantee.
• present participle and gerund of can
(Noun) The letter "A" in Navy Phonetic Alphabet.
Why able matters
able appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
How able works in practice
In practice, able is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.