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

Explanation

Something apt is perfectly appropriate, clever and well-suited to the matter at hand. If your room is small and dark, “cave-like” would be an apt description. The wee cousin of aptitude, apt has the same root meaning of "strength and ideal appropriateness." An apt description or nickname is one that’s just right. Apt can also be used in the form "to be apt to" meaning "to be likely to" do something. You’re apt to use this word more now that you know precisely what it means!

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

Mr. Swaim’s analogy to the Japanese surrender in World War II is in some ways more apt than he allows.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

As England's players stood stark, separate and slumped - and Italy celebrated a first-ever win in the fixture - talk of a crisis, perhaps premature before, felt entirely apt.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

This is not very apt, for it frequently does rain without pouring.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

Related Words

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