Word family noun ability ≠ inability disability adjective able ≠ unable disabled verb enable ≠ disable adverb ably
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdisabledis‧a‧ble /dɪsˈeɪbəl/ verb [transitive] 1 MIDISABLEDto make someone unable to use a part of their body properly Carter was permanently disabled in the war.Grammar Disable is usually passive in this meaning.2 DESTROYBREAKto deliberately make a machine or piece of equipment impossible to use The virus will disable your computer. —disablement noun [countable, uncountable] —disabling adjective a disabling injury→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
disable• The tank's navigational system had been disabled during a grenade attack.• Don had been permanently disabled in a car accident.• First, there was the groin strain that put him on the disabled list from April 28-May 12.• The robbers had disabled the bank's security system.• Somehow, the robbers were able to disable the gallery's alarm system.• Car-owners disable their vehicles every time they park. 