Adaptability Meaning

/ədæptəˈbɪlɪti/
C1

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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nounThe quality of being adaptable; a quality that renders adaptable.

nounVariability in respect to, or under the influence of, external conditions; susceptibility of an organism to that variation whereby it becomes suited to or fitted for its conditions of environment; the capacity of an organism to be modified by circumstances.

The adaptability of humans in difficult circumstances is nothing short of amazing.
Crisis management requires adaptability and quick thinking.
Evolution has shown that adaptability is key in all species.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The employee's remarkable ____ impressed managers as she smoothly handled several major changes in project requirements.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In a fast-changing world, ____ is an essential skill for success.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Italic *aptos Latin aptus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin apiō Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tos Latin -tus ▲ Latin -ō Latin -tō Latin aptō Latin adaptōder. Middle English *adapten English adapt Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English adaptable Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts Latin -itāsder. Old French -itebor. Middle English -ite English -ity ▲ English adapt ▲ Latin -ābilis ▲ Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts Proto-Italic *-tāts Latin -tās Latin -abilitas Middle French -abletébor. Middle English -ablete English -ability English adaptability From adaptable + -ity or adapt + -ability.

"But the real test of my adaptability came senior year, when I became chapter president of DKA." — 2020 June 30, Spencer Wright, “My fraternity taught me the secret to surviving a pandemic”, in CNN:
"Typically, tarantulas are either terrestrial or arboreal, but the Chilobrachys natanicharum can live in both enivronments^([sic]), the researchers said, demonstrating its adaptability." — 2023 September 26, Hafsa Khalil, “Electric blue tarantula species discovered in Thailand”, in CNN:

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CEFR Practice Quiz
The employee's remarkable ____ impressed managers as she smoothly handled several major changes in project requirements.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In a fast-changing world, ____ is an essential skill for success.

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