competent
[kom-pi-tuh nt]
- having suitable or sufficient skill, knowledge, experience, etc., for some purpose; properly qualified: He is perfectly competent to manage the bank branch.
- adequate but not exceptional.
- Law. (of a witness, a party to a contract, etc.) having legal competence, as by meeting certain minimum requirements of age, soundness of mind, or the like.
- Geology. (of a bed or stratum) able to undergo folding without flowage or change in thickness.
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Origin of competent
Synonyms
See more synonyms for competent on Thesaurus.com1. fit, capable, proficient.
Synonym study
1. See able.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for competently
Contemporary Examples
Had he been competently represented, the jury might well have failed to concur on a death sentence.
He knew the crash was coming, and when it came, he was able to talk about it competently—unlike John McCain.
The Republican Party was long known as the party that competently managed government.
Historical Examples
He furnished the demand and the soil was there competently with the supply.
Cobb's Bill-of-FareIrvin Shrewsbury Cobb
This was a situation, not for bluster and rage, but to be competently grappled with.
Its all here, every inch of it, she competently continued, and now at last I can do what I want!
The Two MagicsHenry James
And if you cannot do it competently without, use a well-composed form.
A Christian Directory (Part 2 of 4)Richard Baxter
I hope you will see him—he will speak of me competently and kindly.
The Letters of Henry James (volume I)Henry James
competent
- having sufficient skill, knowledge, etc; capable
- suitable or sufficient for the purposea competent answer
- law (of a witness) having legal capacity; qualified to testify, etc
- (postpositive foll by to) belonging as a right; appropriate
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Word Origin
C14: from Latin competēns, from competere to be competent; see compete
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for competently
competent
adj.
late 14c., "suitable," from Old French competent "sufficient, appropriate, suitable," from Latin competentem (nominative competens), present participle of competere "coincide, agree" (see compete). Meaning "able, fit" is from 1640s. Legal sense is late 15c.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
competent
(kŏm′pĭ-tənt)- Properly or sufficiently qualified; capable.
- Capable of performing an allotted or required function.
- Legally qualified or fit to perform an act.
- Able to distinguish right from wrong and to manage one's affairs.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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