adept
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
-
very proficient in something requiring skill or manual dexterity
-
skilful; expert
noun
Other Word Forms
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); see ad-, apt
Explanation
Are you looking for another word to describe a person who is highly skilled, very proficient or expert at something? Try the adjective adept! In the days of Medieval Latin, an adeptus was a person who had learned the secrets of alchemy. Although an adept person today cannot turn lead into gold, the adjective is still high praise meaning "skilled, expert, highly proficient."
Vocabulary lists containing adept
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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The Phantom Tollbooth
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Bright Ideas: Synonyms For "Smart"
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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.
This week heading into Thursday is printing a doji, which is adept at signaling potential trend changes from the prevailing direction.
From Barron's • May 14, 2026
The royals can be surprisingly adept at seeing where change is necessary and with more sustained scrutiny of their funding likely, they may need to be.
From BBC • May 14, 2026
But the showmanship only works as well as it does because the actors are so adept at tracking the chess moves of characters who are always trying to stay one step ahead of danger.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
However, for a few of the weapons—the Patriots, THAADs, and SM missiles, which are adept at shooting down short-to-medium-range ballistic missiles—there are no good substitutes.
From Slate • Apr. 24, 2026
Masterji Thakur continued: “Every Marveller skilled in spice work will have base ingredients. You must be adept in the flavors of the world. My homeland is a big part of that puzzle.”
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
