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Synonyms

gifted

American  
[gif-tid] / ˈgɪf tɪd /

adjective

  1. having great special talent or ability.

    the debut of a gifted artist.

    Synonyms:
    talented, accomplished
  2. having exceptionally high intelligence.

    gifted children.


gifted British  
/ ˈɡɪftɪd /

adjective

  1. having or showing natural talent or aptitude

    a gifted musician

    a gifted performance

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • giftedly adverb
  • giftedness noun
  • overgifted adjective
  • ungifted adjective
  • well-gifted adjective

Etymology

Origin of gifted

First recorded in 1635–45; gift + -ed 3

Explanation

If someone calls you gifted, smile. It means you're talented. You might be gifted at dancing, or a gifted mathematician — you can also call your best friend a gifted actor, or feel envious that she's such a gifted French speaker. In any of these examples, it's as if nature or fate bestowed a gift on a lucky person. Gifted, in fact, comes from gift and its Old Norse root, gipt or gift, which means both "gift" and "good luck."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing gifted

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Alice McLeod was a highly gifted and accomplished pianist who later became renowned for her mastery of the harp.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

The sophomore novel marked the arrival of an intuitive stylist gifted at polyphonic prose.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

"We should all cherish what we have been gifted."

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

In a poor first half display, Alexander-Arnold not only wasted possession far too often, but also almost gifted Bayern a goal with pass straight to Michael Olise.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

She was sure there was a proper ceremony that could help gifted mediums find lost items or people; she just didn’t know what it was.

From "Hello, Universe" by Erin Entrada Kelly