ability

noun

1. 能力
   the fact that sb/sth is able to do sth
   1. The system has the ability to run more than one program at the same time.
      该系统能够同时运行一个以上的程序。
   2. Everyone has the right to good medical care regardless of their ability to pay.
      无论支付能力如何，每个人都有权得到良好的医疗。
   3. A gentle form of exercise will increase your ability to relax.
      和缓的运动锻炼会提高自我放松的能力。
2. 才能；本领；才智
   a level of skill or intelligence
   1. Almost everyone has some musical ability.
      几乎人人都有一些音乐才能。
   2. He was a man of extraordinary abilities.
      他才干卓著。
   3. students of mixed abilities
      能力各不相同的学生
   4. A woman of her ability will easily find a job.
      有她那样才能的女性找工作不难。
   5. I try to do my job to the best of my ability (= as well as I can) .
      我尽全力做好我的工作。

1. N-SING 能力
   Your ability to do something is the fact that you can do it.
   1. The public never had faith in his ability to handle the job...
      公众从来不相信他有能力胜任这一职位。
   2. He has the ability to bring out the best in others.
      他能做到扬人之长。
2. N-VAR 才能;技能;本领
   Your ability is the quality or skill that you have which makes it possible for you to do something.
   1. Her drama teacher spotted her ability...
      她的戏剧老师发现了她的才能。
   2. I have confidence in the ability of the players...
      我对于球员们的能力充满信心。
   3. They repeatedly questioned his leadership abilities...
      他们一再质疑他的领导才能。
   4. Does the school cater for all abilities?
      学校能够做到因材施教吗？
3. PHRASE 尽…所能地；竭尽全力地
   If you do something to the best of your abilities or to the best of your ability, you do it as well as you can.
   1. I take care of them to the best of my abilities...
      我尽我所能地照顾他们。
   2. They tackled them to the best of their ability.
      他们竭尽全力给予解决。

Do not confuse ability with capability and capacity. You often use ability to say that someone can do something well. He had remarkable ability as a musician. ...the ability to bear hardship. A person's capability is the amount of work they can do and how well they can do it. ...a job that was beyond the capability of one man. ...the director's ideas of the capability of the actor. If someone has a particular capacity, a capacity for something, or a capacity to do something, they have the qualities required to do it. Capacity is a more formal word than ability. ...their capacity for hard work. ...his capacity to see the other person's point of view.
不要混淆 ability, capability 和 capacity。ability 常用于表示某人将某件事做好的能力：He had remarkable ability as a musician（他拥有杰出的音乐才华），the ability to bear hardship（承受苦难的能力）。capability 指某人所能完成的工作量以及所能达到的工作质量：a job that was beyond the capability of one man（个人力所不及的工作），the director's ideas of the capability of the actor（导演对于这个演员演技的看法）。capacity指做成某件事所需的素质, 用法比 ability 更加正式，例如 their capacity for hard work（他们能吃苦耐劳），his capacity to see the other person's point of view（他领会他人观点的能力）。

1. The public never had faith in his ability to handle the job
   公众从来不相信他有能力胜任这一职位。
2. He has the ability to bring out the best in others.
   他能做到扬人之长。
3. Her drama teacher spotted her ability
   她的戏剧老师发现了她的才能。
4. I have confidence in the ability of the players
   我对于球员们的能力充满信心。
5. They repeatedly questioned his leadership abilities
   他们一再质疑他的领导才能。
6. Does the school cater for all abilities?
   学校能够做到因材施教吗？
7. I take care of them to the best of my abilities
   我尽我所能地照顾他们。
8. They tackled them to the best of their ability.
   他们竭尽全力给予解决。
9. Leadership is about the ability to implement change.
   领导才能就是要有实施变革的能力。
10. The American economy, and its ability to compete abroad, was slowing down according to the report.
    根据这项报告，美国经济及其海外竞争能力发展的速度开始放缓。
11. The ability to impart knowledge and command respect is the essential qualification for teachers
    具备传授知识并赢得尊敬的能力是对教师的基本要求。
12. It is clear that the ability to smile is inborn.
    显然，笑的能力是与生俱来的。
13. No one doubted his ability, his industry or his integrity.
    没人怀疑他的能力、勤奋和正直。
14. What's important at this juncture is the ability of the three republics to work together
    在这个关键时刻，最重要的是这3个共和国的合作能力。
15. They lost their ability to hear
    他们失去了听觉。
16. There is a lack of confidence in the government's ability to manage the economy
    人民对该政府管理经济的能力缺乏信心。
17. Testosterone does not increase their erectile or orgasmic ability.
    睾酮没有提高男性勃起或达到性高潮的能力。
18. In recruiting students to Computer Systems Engineering, the University looks for evidence of all-round ability
    在招收计算机系统工程专业的学生时，这个大学看重的是学生的综合能力。
19. Relentless in his pursuit of quality, his technical ability was remarkable
    对质量孜孜不倦的追求使他的技能出类拔萃。
20. They are deprived of the ability to exercise the most rudimentary workers 'rights.
    他们被剥夺了行使最基本的工人权利的资格。
21. The students are sorted into three ability groups
    学生们被按照各自的能力分成了3个组。
22. She could hardly expect her employer to provide her with testimonials to her character and ability.
    她可不敢指望雇主给她出具关于她品格和能力的证明书。
23. The ability to work collaboratively is a true test of leadership
    与人合作的能力是对领导能力的一种真正检验。
24. You need an undying belief in your own ability.
    你要坚定不移地相信自己的能力。
25. Depression lowers the human ability to cope with disease.
    抑郁症会降低人体对疾病的抵抗力。
26. He acquired an enviable reputation for artistic ability.
    他的艺术才能使他赢得了令人羡慕的声誉。
27. I don't think his ability is on a par with yours.
    我认为他的能力不能与你的能力相媲美。
28. Stewardesses on planes should be employed for their ability, not for their looks.
    应该根据能力而不是容貌来录用飞机上的女服务员。
29. We should develop the students 'ability to analyse and solve problems.
    我们应该培养学生分析问题和解决问题的能力。
30. As to ability, I am not your match.
    讲能力，我不如你。

  ability capability capacity competence【导航词义：能力，才能】

  ability n. 能力，本领，能耐；专门技能

〔辨析〕普通用词，主要用于人，指在智力或体力上能够做某事的实际能力，常后接动词不定式或介词 in/for。

  capability n. 能力，才能

〔辨析〕尤指完成有难度的事情所需的能力，常后接动词不定式或介词 of，可以复数形式出现。

  capacity n. 能力，才能；容纳能力

〔辨析〕指人理解或做某事的能力，或容器、房间等的容纳能力，常后接介词 of/for。

  competence n. 能力，胜任

〔辨析〕强调做某事的非凡能力，常后接介词 in。

noun

1. the quality of being able to perform

2. possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done
   1. danger heightened his powers of discrimination

   Synonym:    power