capacity — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The ability to hold, receive, or absorb.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

2. A measure of such ability; volume.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

3. A measure of such ability; volume. The maximum amount that can be held.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   It was hauling a capacity load.

   The orchestra played to a capacity crowd.

   More examples (1)

   A factory operating at less than full capacity.

4. Capability; the ability to perform some task.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Surprisingly few men are lacking in capacity, but they fail because they are lacking in application. Either they never learn how to work, or, having learned, they are too indolent to apply themselves with the seriousness and the attention that is necessary to solve important problems.

5. The maximum that can be produced.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   throughput

6. The maximum that can be produced. The maximum that can be produced on a machine or in a facility or group.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Its capacity rating was 150 tons per hour, but its actual maximum capacity was 200 tons per hour.

7. The potential for growth and development.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

8. The potential for growth and development. Mental ability; the power to learn.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

9. A role; the position in which one functions.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   in my capacity as team captain

10. A role; the position in which one functions. Legal authority (to make an arrest for example).

    Usage

    • Countable
    • Uncountable

11. Electrical capacitance.

    Usage

    • Countable
    • Uncountable

Adjective

1. Filling the allotted space.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

Noun

1. capability to perform or produce

   Antonyms

   incapacity

   Broader terms

   capabilitycapableness

   Examples

   among his gifts is his capacity for true altruism

   limited runway capacity

   More examples (1)

   a great capacity for growth

2. the susceptibility of something to a particular treatment

   Synonyms

   capability

   Broader terms

   susceptibilitysusceptibleness

   Examples

   the capability of a metal to be fused

3. the amount that can be contained

   Synonyms

   content

   Broader terms

   volume

   Examples

   the gas tank has a capacity of 12 gallons

4. the maximum production possible

   Broader terms

   production

   Examples

   the plant is working at 80 per cent capacity

5. a specified function

   Broader terms

   functionofficepartrole

   Examples

   he was employed in the capacity of director

   he should be retained in his present capacity at a higher salary

6. (computer science) the amount of information (in bytes) that can be stored on a disk drive

   Broader terms

   indefinite quantity

   Examples

   the capacity of a hard disk drive is usually expressed in megabytes

7. an electrical phenomenon whereby an electric charge is stored

   Synonyms

   capacitanceelectrical capacity

   Broader terms

   electrical phenomenon

8. the power to learn or retain knowledge; in law, the ability to understand the facts and significance of your behavior

   Synonyms

   mental ability

   Antonyms

   incapacity

   Broader terms

   abilitypower

9. tolerance for alcohol

   Broader terms

   tolerance

   Examples

   he had drunk beyond his capacity