agent

[ ey-juhnt ]

/ ˈeɪ dʒənt /

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See synonyms for: agent / agents on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person or business authorized to act on another's behalf: Our agent in Hong Kong will ship the merchandise.A best-selling author needs a good agent.

a person or thing that acts or has the power to act.

a natural force or object producing or used for obtaining specific results: Many insects are agents of fertilization.

an active cause; an efficient cause.

a person who works for or manages an agency.

a person who acts in an official capacity for a government or private agency as a guard, detective, or spy: an FBI agent;the secret agents of a foreign power.

a person responsible for a particular action: Who was the agent of this deed?

Grammar. a form or construction, usually a noun or noun phrase, denoting an animate being that performs or causes the action expressed by the verb, as the police in The car was found by the police.

Indian agent.

a representative of a business firm, especially a traveling salesperson; canvasser; solicitor.

Chemistry. a substance that causes a reaction.

Pharmacology. a drug or chemical capable of eliciting a biological response.

Pathology. any microorganism capable of causing disease.

British. a campaign manager; an election agent.

adjective

acting; exerting power (opposed to patient).

verb (used with object)

to represent (a person or thing) as an agent; act as an agent for: to agent a manuscript;Who agented that deal?

OTHER WORDS FOR agent

1 representative, deputy.

3 means.

See synonyms for agent on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of agent

1570–80; <Latin agent- (stem of agēns (present participle) doing), equivalent to ag- (root of agere to do) + -ent--ent

OTHER WORDS FROM agent

coun·ter·a·gent, nounin·ter·a·gent, nounsu·per·a·gent, nounun·der·a·gent, noun

Words nearby agent

agenda, agender, agendum, agenesis, agenize, agent, agent-general, agential, agentival, agentive, agent noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use agent in a sentence

To challenge an appraisal, review it with your agent and look for discrepancies.
The Basics of Appraisals|Valerie Blake|September 24, 2020|Washington Blade
A special agent for the state wound up producing a report for prosecution, but the San Diego County district attorney’s office decided against it.
Sheriff’s Department Made Excuses for Captain Who Pleaded Guilty to Arms Dealing|Jesse Marx|September 23, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Aranha thinks that a multi-agent approach, where several AIs work independently to build structures informed by their immediate surroundings, could lead to more coherent and realistic designs.
AI planners in Minecraft could help machines design better cities|Will Heaven|September 22, 2020|MIT Technology Review
This program is for lawyers, financial planners, real estate agents, photographers, event planners, and tax specialists.
A new era has arrived in local search: Google’s Local Trust Pack|Justin Sanger|September 18, 2020|Search Engine Land

While the the system assists the agent towards the right answer using machine-learning models trained on prior similar, successfully resolved cases and on the customer’s previous interactions with the company.
From support function to growth engine: The future of AI and customer service|Jason Sparapani|September 17, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Before anti-vaxxers, there were anti-fluoriders: a group who spread fear about the anti-tooth decay agent added to drinking water.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
My agent at the time sent that tape to SNL and then they asked me to come in for an audition.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I could complain about how, two out of eight episodes in, Agent Carter is in no hurry to introduce its real villain.
Marvel’s ‘Agent Carter’ Stomps on the Patriarchy|Melissa Leon|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Lalo said he reported the kidnapping to his ICE handlers, which was confirmed by a former federal agent familiar with the case.
An Informant, a Missing American, and Juarez’s House of Death: Inside the 12-Year Cold Case of David Castro|Bill Conroy|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
You would drink it, then “take a little nap and after that you feel wonderful,” according to a press agent.
History's Craziest Hangover Cures|Justin Jones|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That the inconstancy of such notices, in cases equally important, proves they did not proceed from any such agent.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe
The board will appoint a settling agent who shall keep the necessary records and accounts.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
It is probable he wished to provide written proof of a plea that he was an unwilling agent in the clutch of a mutinous army.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
When the carpet was done, Aunt Ri took the roll in her own independent arms, and strode with it to the Agent's house.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
Yes, the Agent had heard this; he had wondered why the widow did not come to see him; he had expected to hear from her.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson

British Dictionary definitions for agent

agent

/ (ˈeɪdʒənt) /

noun

a person who acts on behalf of another person, group, business, government, etc; representative

a person or thing that acts or has the power to act

a phenomenon, substance, or organism that exerts some force or effecta chemical agent

the means by which something occurs or is achieved; instrumentwind is an agent of plant pollination

a person representing a business concern, esp a travelling salesman

British short for estate agent

short for secret agent

Derived forms of agent

agential (eɪˈdʒɛnʃəl), adjective

Word Origin for agent

C15: from Latin agent-, noun use of the present participle of agere to do

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

Scientific definitions for agent

agent

[ ā′jənt ]

A substance that can bring about a chemical reaction or a biological effect. Compare reagent.

agent

OTHER WORDS FOR agent

Origin of agent

OTHER WORDS FROM agent

Words nearby agent

Words related to agent

How to use agent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for agent

Derived forms of agent

Word Origin for agent

Scientific definitions for agent