efficient
Americanadjective
-
performing or functioning in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort; having and using requisite knowledge, skill, and industry; competent; capable.
a reliable, efficient assistant.
- Synonyms:
- effectual
-
satisfactory and economical to use.
Our new air conditioner is more efficient than our old one.
-
producing an effect, as a cause; causative.
-
utilizing a particular commodity or product with the least waste of resources or effort (usually used in combination).
a fuel-efficient engine.
adjective
-
functioning or producing effectively and with the least waste of effort; competent
-
philosophy producing a direct effect; causative
Usage
What are other ways to say efficient? A person or a thing that is efficient performs or functions in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort. But efficient isn’t quite the same as effectual, efficacious, or effective! Find out why on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
- efficiently adverb
- nonefficient adjective
- quasi-efficient adjective
- superefficient adjective
- unefficient adjective
Etymology
Origin of efficient
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin efficient- (stem of efficiēns ), equivalent to ef- ef- + fic-, combining form of facere “to make, do 1 ” + -ent- -ent
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The team is now exploring simple learning methods inspired by biology that could lead to a new generation of deep learning frameworks, potentially making AI systems faster, more efficient, and less dependent on massive datasets.
From Science Daily
The team is already working to integrate these molecular systems onto silicon chips, with the goal of creating future AI hardware that is both energy efficient and inherently intelligent.
From Science Daily
Then Washington decided the Cold War was over and sold it all because markets are more efficient than warehouses.
From MarketWatch
When the brain's waste removal system becomes less efficient, these spaces can enlarge and become visible on MRI scans.
From Science Daily
"People get tempted by them because they look like they're smaller, so you expect them to use less energy, but they're actually a lot less efficient," he said.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
