- 1 [uncountable, countable, usually singular] the number of things or people that a container or space can hold The theatre has a seating capacity of 2 000. a fuel tank with a capacity of 50 litres The hall was filled to capacity (= was completely full). They played to a capacity crowd (= one that filled all the space or seats). a hard disk storage capacity of 500 gigabytes Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivehigh, large, limited, … verb + capacityhave, expand, increase, … capacity + nounaudience, crowd prepositionat capacity phrasesbe filled to capacity, be packed to capacity, operate at full capacity, … See full entry ability
- 2 [countable, usually singular, uncountable] the ability to understand or to do something intellectual capacity capacity for something She has an enormous capacity for hard work. capacity for doing something Limited resources are restricting our capacity for developing new products. capacity to do something your capacity to enjoy life Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveamazing, enormous, great, … verb + capacitydemonstrate, have, possess, … prepositionbeyond somebody’s capacity, within somebody’s capacity, capacity for, … See full entry role
- 3[countable, usually singular] the official position or function that somebody has synonym role acting in her capacity as manager We are simply involved in an advisory capacity on the project. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveofficial, personal, private, … verb + capacityact in, work in prepositionin your capacity See full entry See related entries: Running a business of factory/machine
- 4[singular, uncountable] the quantity that a factory, machine, etc. can produce The factory is working at full capacity. Wordfinderfactoryassembly line, capacity, factory, foreman, plant, process, production, shift, shop floor, workforce Wordfinderindustrycapacity, industry, just-in-time, labour, lead time, output, raw material, shipping, supply chain, warehouse Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivehigh, large, limited, … verb + capacityhave, expand, increase, … capacity + nounaudience, crowd prepositionat capacity phrasesbe filled to capacity, be packed to capacity, operate at full capacity, … See full entry See related entries: Manufacturing of engine
- 5[countable, uncountable] the size or power of a piece of equipment, especially the engine of a vehicle an engine with a capacity of 1 600 cc Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivehigh, large, limited, … verb + capacityhave, expand, increase, … capacity + nounaudience, crowd prepositionat capacity phrasesbe filled to capacity, be packed to capacity, operate at full capacity, … See full entry See related entries: How machines work Word Originlate Middle English: from French capacité, from Latin capacitas, from capax, capac- ‘that can contain’, from capere ‘take or hold’.Extra examples I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals. In my capacity as president, I would like to thank Jack for his hard work. She seems to have lost the capacity to enjoy herself. The mountain walk is well within the capacity of most fit people. The qualification should increase my earning capacity. The stadium was filled to capacity. The system was already at capacity. The theatre was filled to capacity for every performance. These questions are beyond the capacity of most students. This maths is beyond the capacity of most school children. a high capacity electric pump a total capacity of 10 gallons a total capacity of 50 litres excess capacity in the oil industry her amazing capacity for organization large capacity disk drives spare capacity in the health service the human capacity for compassion A habit becomes an addiction when it reduces your capacity to enjoy life. His capacity for learning languages astonished me. She was acting in her capacity as manager. The fuel tank has a capacity of 50 litres. They played to a capacity crowd. a capacity for hard work/humour/enjoying life/learning languages/love/reflective thinking a hard disk storage capacity of 500 megabytes do something in a business/judicial/professional/voluntary, etc. capacity in his/her/your/their/my capacity as chairman/manager/President, etc.
noun jump to other results
BrE BrE//kəˈpæsəti//; NAmE NAmE//kəˈpæsəti//
(pl. capacities) Manufacturing, Running a business, How machines workCheck pronunciation: capacity
