competent

[kom-pi-tuhnt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR competent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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.

Origin of competent

1350–1400; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin competent- (stem of competēns, present participle of competere to meet, agree). See compete, -ent

Related formscom·pe·tent·ly, adverbnon·com·pe·tent, adjectivenon·com·pe·tent·ly, adverbul·tra·com·pe·tent, adjectiveun·com·pe·tent, adjectiveun·com·pe·tent·ly, adverb

Synonyms for competent

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR competent ON THESAURUS.COM

1. fit, capable, proficient.

Synonym study

1. See able.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for competently

ably, skillfully, expertly, efficiently, effectively, well, adeptly, dexterously, proficiently

Examples from the Web for competently

Contemporary Examples of competently

Had he been competently represented, the jury might well have failed to concur on a death sentence.
How the U.S. Justice System Screws Prisoners with Disabilities
Elizabeth Picciuto
December 16, 2014
He knew the crash was coming, and when it came, he was able to talk about it competently—unlike John McCain.
9 Juicy Bits from Ron Suskind’s Book
David A. Graham
September 20, 2011
The Republican Party was long known as the party that competently managed government.
McCain Campaign Autopsy
Ana Marie Cox
November 7, 2008

Historical Examples of competently

He furnished the demand and the soil was there competently with the supply.
Cobb's Bill-of-Fare
Irvin Shrewsbury Cobb
This was a situation, not for bluster and rage, but to be competently grappled with.
McClure's Magazine, Vol 31, No 2, June 1908
Various
Its all here, every inch of it, she competently continued, and now at last I can do what I want!
The Two Magics
Henry 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

British Dictionary definitions for competently

competent

adjective

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

Derived Formscompetently, adverbcompetentness, noun

Word Origin for competent

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

competently in Medicine

competent

[kŏm′pĭ-tənt]

adj.

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.