Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Language: Old French
Origin: habilité, from Latin habilitas, from habilis; ABLE

ability

 noun
     
a‧bil‧i‧ty S1 W1 plural abilities
1 [countable] the state of being able to do something
ability to do something
the ability to walk
The health center serves all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.
I don't have the ability to say 'no'.
2 [uncountable and countable] someone's level of skill at doing something
athletic/musical/artistic etc ability
The test measures verbal and mathematical ability.
leadership ability
It takes hard work and natural ability to make it as a professional athlete.
There are musicians of all abilities in the orchestra.
of great/exceptional etc ability
He's a writer of remarkable ability.
of high/low/average ability
students of average ability
mixed ability classes (=classes that include students who are at different levels)
3

to the best of your ability

as well as you can:
He completed the job to the best of his ability.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
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