capacity
capacity — noun
1. the greatest amount that a container, space, machine, or system can hold or prod
the greatest amount that a container, space, machine, or system can hold or produce — for example, the number of litres a fuel tank can hold, or the number of people a theatre can seat.
The fuel tank of Kofi's car has a capacity of fifty litres.
capacity of + volume measure
The concert hall was filled to capacity with cheering fans.
filled to capacity
This factory is running at full capacity to meet customer demand.
The new hard drive has a storage capacity of two terabytes.
Hospital capacity was stretched thin during the bad flu season.
- shortage
a situation where there is less than the capacity
文法句型
capacity + for + noun/gerund
capacity + of + number
in/at + full capacity
用法筆記
When talking about the total amount a space can hold, capacity is usually uncountable (The airport reached its capacity). It is countable when you give a specific measurement (a capacity of two hundred seats).
常見錯誤
2. a person's natural or learned ability to do, understand, or produce something —
a person's natural or learned ability to do, understand, or produce something — for example, a child's capacity to learn new languages quickly, or an athlete's capacity for hard training.
Young children have an amazing capacity to absorb new information.
capacity + to-infinitive — natural ability
Leila showed a remarkable capacity for patience when dealing with difficult customers.
capacity for + noun/gerund
The human brain has an extraordinary capacity to adapt after an injury.
Aiko's capacity for hard work impressed every manager she worked with.
Ravi questioned his own capacity to lead the team through the crisis.
- ability
more general and more common; capacity often implies a potential that may not yet be fully used
- capability
similar to capacity but slightly more formal; often used for machines or systems
- aptitude
focuses on a natural talent for a specific type of activity, e.g. musical aptitude
- inability
the lack of ability or means to do something
- incapacity
formal term for being unable to function normally
文法句型
capacity + to-infinitive
capacity + for + noun/gerund
用法筆記
This sense is always singular. The to-infinitive pattern (capacity to do something) is more common than the for + gerund pattern. Distinguish from sense 1 (AMOUNT CONTAINED): sense 2 is about a person's mental or physical ability, not about how much something holds.
常見錯誤
3. the official position, job, or role that someone holds, especially when stating
the official position, job, or role that someone holds, especially when stating how they are acting in a particular situation — for example, speaking in your capacity as the company lawyer, or working in a voluntary capacity.
Dr. Okafor attended the meeting in her capacity as head of research.
in her capacity as + role
Theo signed the contract in his capacity as managing director.
in his capacity as + formal job title
Yara has worked for the charity in a voluntary capacity for six years.
Priya was acting in a professional capacity when she gave that advice.
The ambassador spoke in a private capacity, not on behalf of his government.
文法句型
in + possessive + capacity + as + noun
in a/your capacity as + noun
acting in a + adjective + capacity
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the fixed expression in one's capacity as (someone/something). The adjective before capacity often marks the kind of role: official, professional, personal, private, judicial, advisory, etc. This sense is formal and most common in workplace, legal, or official contexts.