Engineering English
Capacity
Civil Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: Capacity is the maximum number of vehicles that can pass a point on a roadway during a given time period under prevailing conditions.
Example in context
“The capacity of the two-lane highway was reached during peak hours, causing delays.”
“İki şeritli otoyolun kapasitesi yoğun saatlerde aşıldı ve gecikmelere neden oldu.”
Where engineers use it
Capacity is used in traffic engineering to evaluate the maximum traffic load a road can handle. Engineers use capacity in design and operational analysis to ensure efficient flow and to identify bottlenecks.
Practice: can you use “Capacity” at work?
You are analyzing a congested urban arterial. Determine if the current capacity meets the demand and propose improvements.
Show a model answer
“Check the capacity of that road section before designing the new signal.”
“Capacity” in 21 languages
| English | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Turkish | Kapasite |
| French | Capacité |
| German | Kapazität |
| Spanish | Capacidad |
| Chinese | 通行能力 |
| Arabic | السعة المرورية |
| Portuguese | Capacidade de tráfego |
| Russian | Пропускная способность |
| Japanese | 交通容量 |
| Italian | Capacità |
| Vietnamese | Năng lực thông hành |
| Hindi | यातायात क्षमता |
| Thai | ความจุของการจราจร |
| Indonesian | Kapasitas lalu lintas |
| Korean | 교통 용량 |
| Bengali | ট্র্যাফিক ধারণক্ষমতা |
| Dutch | Capaciteit |
| Swedish | Kapacitet |
| Finnish | Kapasiteetti |
| Ukrainian | Пропускна здатність |
Frequently asked questions
What does Capacity mean in engineering?
Capacity is the maximum number of vehicles that can pass a point on a roadway during a given time period under prevailing conditions. In Civil Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Capacity?
Capacity is pronounced /kəˈpæsɪti/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Capacity used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The capacity of the two-lane highway was reached during peak hours, causing delays.”
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