unable

adjective

un·​able ˌən-ˈā-bəl How to pronounce unable (audio)
: 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 The Beatles had been asked to appear in this movie in the main roles, but were allegedly unable due to scheduling conflicts. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 Starving mothers are unable to produce enough milk to feed their babies and parents beg for infant formula at overwhelmed health facilities, parents and doctors told CNN. Helen Regan, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024 Trump is unable to make bond of more than $450 million in his civil fraud case. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 Australia, holding the largest sovereign claim to Antarctica, has a single icebreaker, which, although brand new, is unable to currently refuel efficiently at its home port. Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024 Instead, there is money to be made by cutting off people's limbs, leaving them disabled and unable to work and contribute to society. Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024 The site had once been dotted with bright pink tents — activists had upcycled camping tents discarded by the breast-cancer organization Susan G. Komen for the Cure — but those and other tents had been unable to withstand the area’s powerful winds for more than a few days at a time. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024 The issue, caused by a problem with the fast-food giant’s computer system, rippled from Japan to Australia, New Zealand and several European countries on Friday, leaving some restaurants unable to take orders or serve food. Shirley Zhao, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024 The order, an extension of a 72-hour state of emergency first enacted on Sunday, was issued by Finance Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert, who has been acting as prime minister while the country’s current head of government, Ariel Henry, remains unable to get back into Haiti. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near unable

Cite this Entry

“Unable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unable. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unable

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

More from Merriam-Webster on unable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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