adept

American  

[uh-dept, ad-ept, uh-dept] / əˈdɛpt, ˈæd ɛpt, əˈdɛpt /

adjective

1. very skilled; proficient; expert.

   an adept juggler.

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noun

1. a skilled or proficient person; expert.

adept British  

adjective

1. very proficient in something requiring skill or manual dexterity

2. skilful; expert

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noun

1. a person who is skilled or proficient in something

Other Word Forms

• adeptly adverb
• adeptness noun
• nonadept adjective
• nonadeptly adverb
• unadept adjective
• unadeptly adverb

Etymology

Origin of adept

First recorded in 1655–65; from Medieval Latin adeptus “one who has attained (the secret of transmuting metals),” noun use of Latin past participle of adipiscī “to attain to” ( ad- “toward” + -ep- combining form of ap- in aptus + -tus past participle suffix); ad-, apt

Example Sentences

Crucially for a trip to north London, the Toffees are adept at defending from set-plays.

From BBC

Downing was “adept at switching between the material and the spiritual,” a realist willing to wink at disagreements and who favored “subtlety, sophistication and restraint.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Far-right media personalities are adept at commanding attention with showmanship and swagger.

From Salon

The “PLA centenary goals” pegged to 2027 include overhauls to the military’s organizational structures, hardware upgrades and realistic training aimed at making China’s armed forces more agile and technologically adept.

From The Wall Street Journal

Short explained that foxes are reluctant swimmers but are "quite adept" when they take to the water.

From BBC

Related Words

• accomplished
• adroit
• capable
• deft
• proficient
• skilled
• skillful
• versed