adept
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
-
very proficient in something requiring skill or manual dexterity
-
skilful; expert
noun
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Russians are still defying the blockade, always adept at finding new ways to access our journalism.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
The problem is that in the modern game, teams have become shockingly adept at putting their outfielders in the exact right place to prevent them.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026
Miller is durable and a particularly adept pass blocker.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026
Initially, “Undertone” is adept in producing a simple, familiar atmosphere, where fear can be easily manifested come nightfall.
From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026
She liked having a glass-half-full outlook and was adept at putting a good face on things.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
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.
