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

Fox debunked the reports and offered a number of apt reactions to learning about one’s own death.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

A bear market takes its name from the way a bear attacks, swiping its paws downward, an apt image for falling prices.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Larger companies—those with 500 or more employees—were more apt to say they were cutting routine workers, while keeping employment of “skilled technical” workers flat.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

The Brazilian, although an apt dueller, was caught watching the ball like many zonal markers do.

From BBC • Mar. 8, 2026

“Because who do you think Julian would be more apt to believe?”

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Related Words

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