Oxford Learner's Thesaurus

ability noun
ability capability capacity power
These are all words for the fact that sb is able to do sth, or the
qualities necessary to do sth.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS [-]

a capability/capacity for sth
the ability/capability/capacity/power to do sth
beyond/within your ability/capability/capacity/power
(a/an) great/remarkable/extraordinary/amazing ability/
capacity/powers
natural/physical/intellectual/mental/limited ability/
capability/capacity/powers
to have/develop/acquire/lack/lose the ability/capability/
capacity/power
to demonstrate/show your ability/capability/capacity/power
to restrict sb's ability/capability/capacity/power

ability /BrE ; AmE / [sing., U]

the fact that sb/sth is able to do sth
The system has the ability to run more than one program at the
same time. Everyone has the right to good medical care
regardless of their ability to pay. I try to do the job to the best
of my ability (= as well as I can).
[-] A gentle form of exercise will increase your ability to relax.
Both players demonstrated their ability to hit the ball hard. I
seem to have lost my ability to attract clients.
OPP inability

[-] Inability [sing., U] is the fact of not being able to do sth:

the government's inability to provide basic services Some
families go without medical treatment because of their inability
to pay.
able adj.: You must be able to speak French for this job. A
viral illness left her barely able to walk.
[-] I didn't feel able to disagree with him. Will you be able to
come?
OPP unable to do sth

Oxford Learner's Thesaurus Oxford University Press, 2008.

 Oxford Learner's Thesaurus

[-] not able is also used: He lay there, unable to move.

Unfortunately they weren't able to come.

capability /BrE ; AmE / [U, C] (rather formal)

the ability or qualities necessary to do sth
Animals in the zoo have lost the capability of catching food for
themselves. Age affects the range of a person's capabilities.
[-] She has the capability to become a very fine actor.
Organizing a whole department is beyind his capability. I'm
sure your new job is well within your capabilities. The
government wants to increase its military capability. The
company's manufacturing capability is quite limited. The effect
will be a 50% cut in the company's production capabilities.
[-] Capability is often used to talk about how able a
company or country is to produce sth: a company/country's
manufacturing/production/processing/defence/weapons/nuclear
capability
capable adj.: You are capable of better work than this. I'm
perfectly capable of doing it myself, thank you.
[-] He's quite capable of lying to get out of trouble. She could
hardly believe him capable of such kindness. She is more than
capable of looking after herself. He was barely capable of
writing his own name.

capacity /BrE ; AmE / [C, usually sing.] (rather formal)

the ability to understand or do sth
She has an enormous capacity for hard work. A habit becomes
an addiction when it reduces your capacity to enjoy life.
[-] His capacity for learning languages astonished me.
Children have an innate capacity to understand language. She
seems to have lost the capacity to enjoy herself. This maths is
beyond the capacity of most schoolchildren. The mountain
walk is well within the capacity of most fit people. Limited
resources are restricting our capacity for developing new
products.
[-] Capacity is often used to talk about social, educational
and work-related life skills: a capacity for hard

Oxford Learner's Thesaurus Oxford University Press, 2008.

 Oxford Learner's Thesaurus

work/humour/enjoying life/learning languages/love/reflective

thinking

power /BrE ; AmE / [U] (also powers [pl.])

a particular ability of the body or mind; all the abilities of your
body or mind
He had lost the power of speech. The drug may affect your
powers of concentration. At 26, he is at the height of his
powers and ranked fourth in the world.
[-] Sufferers of the disease have failing mental powers and poor
memories.
[-] Sb's power [U] is also their ability or opportunity to do
sth, used especially in the phrases (not) within sb's power,
beyond sb's power and do everything within your power: It is
not within my power (= I am unable) to help you. I will do
everything in my power to help you.

Oxford Learner's Thesaurus Oxford University Press, 2008.