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
From Ventura to Santa Barbara, gulls, pelicans, murres, and grebes staggered along beaches, unable to fly.
—
Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Even if teachers want to reduce the time their students spend on screens, many are unable to.
—Abby McCloskey, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Two transport planes tasked with flying out rescue crews were unable to take off from a remote base in Iran.
—Olivia Rinaldi, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
Young people are living with their parents longer, unable to afford moving out or simply trying to save up.
—Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unable
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Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Even if teachers want to reduce the time their students spend on screens, many are unable to.
—Abby McCloskey, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Two transport planes tasked with flying out rescue crews were unable to take off from a remote base in Iran.
—Olivia Rinaldi, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
Young people are living with their parents longer, unable to afford moving out or simply trying to save up.
—Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unable
Cite this Entry
“Unable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unable. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unable
adjective
un·able
ˌən-ˈā-bəl 
ˈən-
: not able : incapable
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