incapacitate

/ˌɪnkəˈpæsɪteɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪnkəˈpæsɪteɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt/ (ame, mw)

incapacitate — verb

  • incapacitatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • incapacitateshe / she / it
  • incapacitatedpast simple
  • incapacitating-ing form

1. to make a person or thing unable to function normally, often because of illness,

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to make a person or thing unable to function normally, often because of illness, injury, or another serious problem.

例句

The stroke incapacitated Mr. Ali for months, so he could not return to work.

incapacitate + person; result clause shows loss of normal function

A broken ankle incapacitated Saira during the final week of training.

subject is injury causing temporary inability

同義詞
  • disable

    more general; can refer to people, machines, or software

  • debilitate

    often medical and emphasises severe weakness rather than total inability

  • paralyze

    stronger and more vivid; often suggests being unable to move at all

  • sideline

    less formal; often means keep someone out of action for a period

反義詞
  • enable

    make someone or something able to function or act

  • restore

    bring normal function back after damage or illness

文法句型

incapacitate + somebody/something

be incapacitated by [injury/illness/problem]

用法筆記

Often passive in formal medical or official writing. The cause is usually an illness, injury, or serious problem, and the result is that the person or thing cannot carry out normal work or activity.

常見錯誤

❌The flu incapacitated to go to school.
✅The flu incapacitated her, so she could not go to school.
💡'incapacitate' takes a direct object, not a to-infinitive.
❌Christopher incapacitated after the crash.
✅Christopher was incapacitated after the crash.
💡when the affected person is the subject, this verb is usually passive.