[
UK
/ʌnˈeɪbəl/
]
[ US /əˈneɪbəɫ/ ]
[ US /əˈneɪbəɫ/ ]
ADJECTIVE
-
(usually followed by `to') lacking necessary physical or mental ability
the sun was unable to melt enough snow
dyslexics are unable to learn to read adequately -
lacking in power or forcefulness
an ineffectual ruler
like an unable phoenix in hot ashes -
(usually followed by `to') not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
unable to obtain funds
unable to get to town without a car
How To Use unable In A Sentence
- He wrote and tcanslaited many fortunate connexion « Mr. Boweai other works, and among the rest being unable to pay the costs in-* wa»the author of one play, called curred by the suit in the Spiritual Biographia dramatica, or, A companion to the playhouse:
- When the matador realises the bull is weak and unable to charge much longer he will reach for his killing sword and seek to manoeuvre it directly in front of him with its head down, so that he can administer the death stroke.
- They are happening in a system that's constantly working to full capacity, massively understaffed and unable to cope with the impact of cuts to social care. Times, Sunday Times
- Despite having all the appropriate authorisations in their possession, they were unable to produce the program for which they had travelled to the country.
- They are unable to distinguish between culture and religions.
- They don't really have a choice Born helpless, nude and unable to provide for himself, Lore Sjöberg eventually overcame these handicaps to become an alien, an aileron and an ailurophile. Lore Sj
- Many sufferers of the condition are unable to go about daily life. Times, Sunday Times
- Cracked or scaly skin is unable to serve as an effective barrier against disease.
- The 37-year-old was unable to work after the first assault in July 2003 in which he was bottled, repeatedly kicked and left for dead in the town centre.
- Delvile, by which her own goodness proved the source of her defamation: and though something still hung upon her mind that destroyed that firm confidence she had hitherto felt in the friendship of Mr Monckton, she held it utterly unjust to condemn him without proof, which she was not more unable to procure, than to satisfy herself with any reason why so perfidiously he should calumniate her. Cecilia