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 for

, plural apts.

1. apartment ( def 1 ).

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 for

1. apartment

Usage Note

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. liable, likely.

Derived Forms

• ˈaptness, noun
• ˈaptly, adverb

Other Words From

• apt·ly adverb
• apt·ness noun
• o·ver·apt adjective
• o·ver·apt·ness 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.

Example Sentences

With in-room dining, a single oversight — the wrong wine — can be “a five- or 10-minute mistake,” since servers are apt to be out of view.

From Washington Post

Take a deep breath and pay attention because we’re going to outline the 11 best ways you can use Google Trends to come up with apt keywords.

From Search Engine Watch

That said, as the platform continues to gain ground, buyers say advertisers will have to invest in creating content specific for TikTok’s highly engaged audience, who is not as apt to interact with material that’s not native to the app experience.

From Digiday

Bourquin wanted to see breaking at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, a more apt platform and a friendly way to introduce the sport to Olympic officials, who skew older.

From Washington Post

Wildfire seemed a more apt description of the disease than the straightforward scientific discussion of a virus and its vectors, perhaps because “virus” was already in use to describe the disinformation that enabled covid to scorch the Earth.

From Washington Post

But in recent days, I've found Sarah Palin an even more apt comparison.

From The Daily Beast

Today, it's our governing elites, regardless of party, who are most apt rush us into the future.

From The Daily Beast

Experts we talked to said the comparison between Goodell and law enforcement may not necessarily be apt.

From The Daily Beast

The compilation also brought the Nazi-riffic Apt Pupil and leach-tastic The Body (aka Stand By Me) to the silver screen.

From The Daily Beast

Their timing is apt: The medical examiner is now a hot commodity in TV-land.

From The Daily Beast

We are apt to think of these little ones as doing right only when under compulsion: but this is far from the truth.

From Project Gutenberg

Those of a more serious turn are apt to show a curious preference for the graver aspects of things.

From Project Gutenberg

In this country, we are apt to think when any one dresses himself up, that he is disguising a fool.

From Project Gutenberg

In conversation their minds are apt to remain in a recipient passive state.

From Project Gutenberg

But Bull in authority anywhere is apt to exhibit his horns to those whom he suspects of being nobodies.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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

More About Apt

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.

Where does apt come from?

The first records of the term apt come from the 1300s. It comes from the Latin aptus, meaning “fitting or appropriate.”

Apt. (including the period) is an abbreviation for both apartment and appointment. While the period is often used, it isn’t always. Keep an eye out for apt being used as a shortened form of one of these words. The surrounding text will often give you a clue what the writer means.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to apt?

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

What are some synonyms for apt?

• likely
• prone
• appropriate
• fitting
• adept
• smart

What are some words that share a root or word element with apt? 

• aptly
• overapt
• unapt

What are some words that often get used in discussing apt?

• assessment
• judgment
• analogy

How is apt used in real life?

People in negative moods pay more attention to fairness and are more apt to reject unfair offers.

— UberFacts (@UberFacts) August 18, 2018

I look forward to my first visit to the World Economic Forum at Davos, at the invitation of India’s good friend and Founder of the WEF, Prof Klaus Schwab. The theme of the Forum, “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World” is both thoughtful and apt. @wef #IndiaMeansBusiness

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2018

@MelissaLFu showing us a traditional Chinese tea set. How apt for the @BirdandBlendTea bookclub! #PeachBlossomSpring. Out March 2022 https://t.co/uFB2ieRqzp pic.twitter.com/eOsDOelzS0

— Headline Books (@headlinepg) December 9, 2021

Try using apt!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for apt?

A. relevant
B. fitting
C. inappropriate
D. suitable