apt

¹ American  

[apt] / æpt /

adjective

1. inclined; disposed; given; prone.

   too apt to slander others.

   Synonyms:

   liable

2. likely.

   Am I apt to find him at home?

3. unusually intelligent; able to learn quickly and easily.

   an apt pupil.

   Synonyms:

   skillful, dexterous, adroit, handy, adaptable, bright, clever

4. suited to the purpose or occasion; appropriate.

   an apt metaphor; a few apt remarks on world peace.

   Synonyms:

   felicitous, germane, meet, fitting

5. Archaic. prepared; ready; willing.

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apt. ² American  

abbreviation

plural

apts

1. apartment.

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apt ¹ British  

/ æpt /

adjective

1. suitable for the circumstance or purpose; appropriate

2. (postpositive; foll by an infinitive) having a tendency (to behave as specified)

3. having the ability to learn and understand easily; clever (esp in the phrase an apt pupil )

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apt. ² British  

abbreviation

1. apartment

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Usage

Some usage guides insist that apt followed by an infinitive can or should be used to mean only “inclined, disposed”: He is apt to ignore matters he regards as unimportant. In fact, apt is standard in all varieties of speech and writing as a synonym for likely in contexts that suggest probability without any implication of a natural disposition toward: Hostilities are apt to break out if the confrontation is not soon resolved. She is apt to arrive almost any time now. See also liable, likely.

Related Words

Apt, pertinent, relevant all refer to something suitable or fitting. Apt means to the point and particularly appropriate: an apt comment. Pertinent means pertaining to the matter in hand: a pertinent remark. Relevant means directly related to and important to the subject: a relevant opinion.

Other Word Forms

• aptly adverb
• aptness noun
• overapt adjective
• overaptness noun

Etymology

Origin of apt¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin aptus “fastened, fitted, fitting, appropriate,” equivalent to ap(ere) “fasten, attach” + -tus past participle suffix

Origin of apt.²

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

It seems apt that the glasses she uses at her computer to ease her eye strain are tinted rose.

From The Wall Street Journal

At its core, this salad is abundant, which feels apt for a winter salad.

From Salon

That could have been an apt signal at a time when many nontech sectors showed signs of stress.

From The Wall Street Journal

Realizing he was more apt to be spotted that way, he changed direction, taking the longer route down Cherry Street toward the park.

From Literature

In fact, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is as close to a buddy comedy as a Westeros-sided story is apt to get.

From Salon

Related Words

• appropriate
• apropos
• correct
• felicitous
• fitting
• happy
• relevant
• suitable