unable

adjective

un·​able ˌən-ˈā-bəl How to pronounce unable (audio)
Synonyms of unablenext
: not able : incapable: such as

Examples of unable in a Sentence

I was unable to afford the trip. He was unable to play tennis after the injury.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The jihadists are unable to take Bamako, for now. Ulf Laessing, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026 Vargas, unable to explain it, showed her a scene where Rico’s household is arguing about a vaccine for the newborn child. Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026 Melo was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center, but doctors were unable to save him. Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026 Teachers said Soliz was unable to answer questions about how the chart was created, including grade levels and how many students were included in the data. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unable

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unable was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Unable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unable. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

unable

adjective
un·​able ˌən-ˈā-bəl How to pronounce unable (audio)
ˈən-
: not able : incapable

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