26984 words

capacity

10 definitions • 28 examples
1
the total amount that can be contained or produced:

Examples:

at capacity The elevator was at capacity and could not take any more passengers.
at full capacity All our factories are working at full capacity (= are producing goods as fast as possible).
capacity crowd The game was watched by a capacity crowd of 50,000 (= the place was completely full).
seating capacity The stadium has a seating capacity of 50,000.
The generators each have a capacity of (= can produce) 1,000 kilowatts.
The larger cars have bigger capacity engines (= the engines are bigger and more powerful).
We are running below capacity (= not producing as many goods as we are able to) because of cancelled orders.
2
someone's ability to do a particular thing:

Examples:

capacity to A good leader must have the capacity to make decisions.
beyond the capacity of Developing a completely new system was beyond the capacity of any local researchers.
It seems to be beyond his capacity to follow simple instructions.
within the capacity of Running a two-minute film should be within the capacity of any home computer.
Do you think it's within his capacity to do the job without making a mess of it?
capacity for She has a great capacity for hard work.
3
a particular position or job:

Examples:

in a capacity It would be a privilege to serve my country in any capacity.
in someone's capacity as something She guides tourists at the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home in her capacity as a National Park Service ranger.
She was speaking in her capacity as a novelist, rather than as a television presenter.
4
the amount that can be held or produced by something:

Examples:

[ C ] The stadium has a seating capacity of 50,000.
[ U ] The theater was full to capacity that night.
5
the ability to do something in particular:

Examples:

He has an enormous capacity for work.
6
a particular position or job; a role:

Examples:

She was speaking in her capacity as a judge.
7
the total amount or number of things or people that something can hold:

Examples:

a capacity of sth The tanks have a capacity of 1000 litres.
capacity audience/crowd The rally drew a capacity crowd of 15,000 people (= the place, which held 15,000 people, was completely full).
8
the total amount of something that can be produced:

Examples:

cut/expand/increase capacity They aim to expand capacity by 3 million barrels a day.
All our factories are now working at full capacity.
9
the ability of a person or organization to do something:

Examples:

capacity to do sth "Every industry has the capacity to go green," he says.
capacity for sth Most people have little capacity for creativity in solving problems at work.
10
a particular position or job:

Examples:

sb's capacity as sth In her capacity as portfolio manager, she has primary responsibility for making day-to-day investment decisions.
He attends Board meetings in an advisory capacity.

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