unable

unable
adj.
VERBS
appear, be, feel, prove, seem
become
remain
find yourself, leave sb, make sb, render sb

She found herself unable to meet his gaze.

The accident left him unable to walk.

consider sb/sth

He was considered unable to cope with the pressure of the job.

ADVERB
completely, quite, totally, utterly, wholly
increasingly
almost, nearly, virtually
generally, largely
apparently, seemingly

He went on, apparently unable to stop.

clearly
simply

The staff were simply unable to cope.

somehow

They are somehow unable to make the choices necessary.

genuinely (esp. BrE)
temporarily

Clare nodded, temporarily unable to speak.

still
currently
constitutionally, physically

He seemed constitutionally unable to keep quiet.

PHRASES
unwilling or unable

He remained silent, unwilling or unable to say what was in his mind.


Collocations dictionary. 2013.

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  • Unable — Un*a ble, a. Not able; not having sufficient strength, means, knowledge, skill, or the like; impotent weak; helpless; incapable; now usually followed by an infinitive or an adverbial phrase; as, unable for work; unable to bear fatigue. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • unable — I adjective defenseless, disabled, feckless, forceless, helpless, impotent, inadequate, incapable, incompetent, ineffective, inefficient, inept, inoperative, insufficient, lame, notable, powerless, unfit, unqualified, useless, worthless II index… …   Law dictionary

  • unable — (adj.) late 14c., lacking in ability, incapable, from UN (Cf. un ) (1) not + ABLE (Cf. able). Modeled on O.Fr. inhabile or L. inhabilis …   Etymology dictionary

  • unable — [adj] not having talent, skill can’t cut it*, can’t hack it*, can’t make the grade*, clumsy, helpless, hog tied*, impotent, impuissant, inadequate, incapable, incapacitated, incompetent, ineffectual, inefficacious, inefficient, inept, inoperative …   New thesaurus

  • unable — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ lacking the skill, means, or opportunity to do something …   English terms dictionary

  • unable — [un ā′bəl] adj. 1. not able; lacking the ability, means, or power to do something 2. incompetent 3. helpless; feeble …   English World dictionary

  • unable — un|a|ble [ ʌn eıbl ] adjective *** unable to do something FORMAL not able to do something. In ordinary speech can t do something is the more usual way of saying this: Some of the children were unable to read or write. feel unable to do something …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • unable — adj. (cannot stand alone) unable to + inf. (she is unable to work today) * * * [ʌn eɪb(ə)l] (cannot stand alone) unable to + int. (she is unable to work today) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • unable — un|a|ble W2S3 [ʌnˈeıbəl] adj [not before noun] not able to do something →↑inability unable to do sth ▪ Lucy was unable to find out what had happened. ▪ Unable to sleep, I got up and made myself a drink …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • unable — [[t]ʌne͟ɪb(ə)l[/t]] ♦♦♦ ADJ: v link ADJ to inf If you are unable to do something, it is impossible for you to do it, for example because you do not have the necessary skill or knowledge, or because you do not have enough time or money. The… …   English dictionary

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