apt

¹

[apt]

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.

apt.

²

abbreviation

plural

apts 

1. apartment.

apt

¹

/ 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 )

apt.

²

abbreviation

1. apartment

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.

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

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 apt²

First recorded in 1900–05

Word History and Origins

Origin of apt¹

C14: from Latin aptus fitting, suitable, from apere to fasten

Synonym Study

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.

Related Words

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

When To Use

What does apt mean?

Apt means inclined, disposed, or prone to, as in When I’m hungry, I’m apt to be cranky too.Apt can also mean likely, as in You’re more apt to pass the test if you study first.Apt also describes something that is suitable or particularly fitting or relevant. An apt description, for example, is a description that is just right.Finally, apt can also mean unusually intelligent or able to learn quickly and easily. You’ll most often hear it used in the phrase apt pupil or apt student.Example: That is quite an apt observation coming from a novice.