Unable
adjective
Not having the skill, means, or opportunity to do something.
He was unable to play the piano

Often appears as...
- unable to understand
- unable to perform
adjective
Not having the skill, means, or opportunity to do something.
He was unable to play the piano

Often appears as...
- unable to understand
- unable to perform
Definition 1 of 1

Context Matters
Understand when to use 'unable' by considering the situation and what is being hindered or prevented.

She was unable to attend the meeting due to an urgent family matter.
Expressing Difficulty
'Unable' emphasizes that someone can't do something, often highlighting a struggle or challenge.

Despite his efforts, he was unable to lift the heavy box.
Temporary Situations
Use 'unable' for situations that may change; it does not always imply a permanent state.

I am currently unable to answer your question, but I'll get back to you soon.
Context Matters
Understand when to use 'unable' by considering the situation and what is being hindered or prevented.

She was unable to attend the meeting due to an urgent family matter.
Expressing Difficulty
'Unable' emphasizes that someone can't do something, often highlighting a struggle or challenge.

Despite his efforts, he was unable to lift the heavy box.
Temporary Situations
Use 'unable' for situations that may change; it does not always imply a permanent state.

I am currently unable to answer your question, but I'll get back to you soon.
Context Matters
Understand when to use 'unable' by considering the situation and what is being hindered or prevented.

She was unable to attend the meeting due to an urgent family matter.
Expressing Difficulty
'Unable' emphasizes that someone can't do something, often highlighting a struggle or challenge.

Despite his efforts, he was unable to lift the heavy box.
Temporary Situations
Use 'unable' for situations that may change; it does not always imply a permanent state.

I am currently unable to answer your question, but I'll get back to you soon.
Video examples
How languages evolve -...
unable to understand each other. We don't really know if such an original language ever existed, but we do know that the thousands of languages existing today can be traced back to a much smaller number. So how did we end up with so many? In the early days of human migration, the world was much less populated.
Video examples
What happens when you...
through cooling methods like the evaporation of sweat. But with uncompensable heat stress, your body is unable to lose enough heat due to overexertion or high temperatures in humidity, which raises your core temperature beyond normal levels. This causes the proteins and cell membranes to denature,
Video examples
What does it mean to be...
relating to the status of refugees in response to mass persecutions and displacements of the Second World War. It defines a refugee as someone who is outside their country of nationality, and is unable to return to their home country because of well-founded fears of being persecuted.
Video examples
The truth about bats -...
The perception that bats are often diseased may come from the fact that sick bats, who may show unusual behavior, emerge during the daytime, or be unable to fly, are more likely to be encountered by people. So a good way to protect yourself is to protect bats as well,
Video examples
Plato’s Allegory of the...
with no knowledge of the outside world. They are chained, facing a wall, unable to turn their heads, while a fire behind them gives off a faint light. Occasionally, people pass by the fire, carrying figures of animals and other objects that cast shadows on the wall.
Video examples
Global Warming 101 PIPE...
could flood coastal areas around the world weather patterns could change making hurricanes more frequent severe droughts could become more common in warm areas and species unable to adapt to the changing conditions would face
Video examples
The otherworldly...
animals bioluminesce to match the glow. Predators or prey looking up from below are deceived by this camoflauge, unable to see the creatures silhouette. Such otherworldly adaptations also arise from the need to locate
Video examples
Barat Ali Batoor: My...
but I was really afraid that I would end up in Indonesia for many years doing nothing and unable to work, like every other asylum seeker. But it had happened to be a little bit different with me.
Video examples
Born to sing PIPE Taylor...
very ugly explosive and violent way unable to control his anger and his rage my father tore through our home daily yelling screaming and hitting his inner struggle to provide and protect for his
Video examples
Best Of Ants PIPE BBC Earth
and sterile unable to reproduce themselves their sole purpose in life is to serve the queens they darken as their bodies become harder
Video examples
How languages evolve -...
unable to understand each other. We don't really know if such an original language ever existed, but we do know that the thousands of languages existing today can be traced back to a much smaller number. So how did we end up with so many? In the early days of human migration, the world was much less populated.
Video examples
What happens when you...
through cooling methods like the evaporation of sweat. But with uncompensable heat stress, your body is unable to lose enough heat due to overexertion or high temperatures in humidity, which raises your core temperature beyond normal levels. This causes the proteins and cell membranes to denature,
Video examples
What does it mean to be...
relating to the status of refugees in response to mass persecutions and displacements of the Second World War. It defines a refugee as someone who is outside their country of nationality, and is unable to return to their home country because of well-founded fears of being persecuted.
Video examples
The truth about bats -...
The perception that bats are often diseased may come from the fact that sick bats, who may show unusual behavior, emerge during the daytime, or be unable to fly, are more likely to be encountered by people. So a good way to protect yourself is to protect bats as well,
Video examples
Plato’s Allegory of the...
with no knowledge of the outside world. They are chained, facing a wall, unable to turn their heads, while a fire behind them gives off a faint light. Occasionally, people pass by the fire, carrying figures of animals and other objects that cast shadows on the wall.
Video examples
Global Warming 101 PIPE...
could flood coastal areas around the world weather patterns could change making hurricanes more frequent severe droughts could become more common in warm areas and species unable to adapt to the changing conditions would face
Video examples
The otherworldly...
animals bioluminesce to match the glow. Predators or prey looking up from below are deceived by this camoflauge, unable to see the creatures silhouette. Such otherworldly adaptations also arise from the need to locate
Video examples
Barat Ali Batoor: My...
but I was really afraid that I would end up in Indonesia for many years doing nothing and unable to work, like every other asylum seeker. But it had happened to be a little bit different with me.
Video examples
Born to sing PIPE Taylor...
very ugly explosive and violent way unable to control his anger and his rage my father tore through our home daily yelling screaming and hitting his inner struggle to provide and protect for his
Video examples
Best Of Ants PIPE BBC Earth
and sterile unable to reproduce themselves their sole purpose in life is to serve the queens they darken as their bodies become harder
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Larry David
American Actor
In those days, reserve duty lasted for six years, which, I might add, was three times as long as service in the regular army, although to be perfectly honest, I was unable to fulfill my entire obligation because I was taking acting classes and they said I could skip my last year.

Quote examples
Jim Carrey
Canadian Comedian
What I have in common with the character in 'Truman' is this incredible need to please people. I feel like I want to take care of everyone and I also feel this terrible guilt if I am unable to. And I have felt this way ever since all this success started.

Quote examples
Matisyahu
American Musician
When I went to see certain shows when I was a kid, they changed my life. They made me tap into that place inside myself that I was unable to get to, so music is that tool, that bridge, and that's the kind of music I'm interested in making.

Quote examples
Hugo Weaving
Nigerian Actor
I think when your image becomes so big that it's hard for a viewer to see a character, then I think you're in danger as an actor of being unable to perform what you should be doing.

Quote examples
Freddie Wong
American Director
In general, a lot of content creators find that their success is unable to support any sort of organization of scale. It's pretty difficult to support even three or four employees.

Quote examples
Pema Chodron
American Clergyman
Rejoicing in the good fortune of others is a practice that can help us when we feel emotionally shut down and unable to connect with others. Rejoicing generates good will.

Quote examples
Paul Twitchell
American Celebrity
Y'know, the real reason why I was such a failure in the sense of being unable to make any sort of a living was because I was really not motivated. I had no motivation.

Quote examples
Joanna Going
American Actress
As bad as it feels, it's familiar to you. And the depression itself is making you unable to reach out. So, I've definitely experienced that in my life.

Quote examples
Pranitha Subhash
Indian Actress
There are many people who are unable to eat even a single meal in a day and it is our responsibility to help in whatever way we can.

Quote examples
Tamannaah
Indian Actress
I am unable to eat what I want to and always work hard to maintain my body and looks. I envy other women who have a free lifestyle.

Quote examples
Larry David
American Actor
In those days, reserve duty lasted for six years, which, I might add, was three times as long as service in the regular army, although to be perfectly honest, I was unable to fulfill my entire obligation because I was taking acting classes and they said I could skip my last year.

Quote examples
Jim Carrey
Canadian Comedian
What I have in common with the character in 'Truman' is this incredible need to please people. I feel like I want to take care of everyone and I also feel this terrible guilt if I am unable to. And I have felt this way ever since all this success started.

Quote examples
Matisyahu
American Musician
When I went to see certain shows when I was a kid, they changed my life. They made me tap into that place inside myself that I was unable to get to, so music is that tool, that bridge, and that's the kind of music I'm interested in making.

Quote examples
Hugo Weaving
Nigerian Actor
I think when your image becomes so big that it's hard for a viewer to see a character, then I think you're in danger as an actor of being unable to perform what you should be doing.

Quote examples
Freddie Wong
American Director
In general, a lot of content creators find that their success is unable to support any sort of organization of scale. It's pretty difficult to support even three or four employees.

Quote examples
Pema Chodron
American Clergyman
Rejoicing in the good fortune of others is a practice that can help us when we feel emotionally shut down and unable to connect with others. Rejoicing generates good will.

Quote examples
Paul Twitchell
American Celebrity
Y'know, the real reason why I was such a failure in the sense of being unable to make any sort of a living was because I was really not motivated. I had no motivation.

Quote examples
Joanna Going
American Actress
As bad as it feels, it's familiar to you. And the depression itself is making you unable to reach out. So, I've definitely experienced that in my life.

Quote examples
Pranitha Subhash
Indian Actress
There are many people who are unable to eat even a single meal in a day and it is our responsibility to help in whatever way we can.

Quote examples
Tamannaah
Indian Actress
I am unable to eat what I want to and always work hard to maintain my body and looks. I envy other women who have a free lifestyle.

Example 1 of 10
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