apt
adjective
apt
1 American
[apt]
/ æpt /
adjective
-
inclined; disposed; given; prone.
too apt to slander others.
- Synonyms:
- liable
-
Am I apt to find him at home?
-
unusually intelligent; able to learn quickly and easily.
an apt pupil.
-
suited to the purpose or occasion; appropriate.
an apt metaphor; a few apt remarks on world peace.
- Synonyms:
- felicitous, germane, meet, fitting
-
Archaic. prepared; ready; willing.
apt.
2
American
abbreviation
-
apts
plural
apt
1
British
/ æpt /
adjective
-
suitable for the circumstance or purpose; appropriate
-
(postpositive; foll by an infinitive) having a tendency (to behave as specified)
-
having the ability to learn and understand easily; clever (esp in the phrase an apt pupil )
apt.
2
British
abbreviation
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.
Synonym Usage
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
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!
Vocabulary lists containing apt
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act III
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
List 8
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
In that sense, a generally affable comedian like Jo Koy seemed like an apt choice to host the Golden Globes in 2024.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
The accents there are as apt to hail from the South Shore of Long Island as from South Carolina.
From Slate ● Aug. 25, 2026
The multicultural song, with lyrics in both Korean and English, was an apt choice for Santos Bravos — between the five members, they speak and sing in three languages and represent several Latin cultures.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
Grant said it was an apt name because his company aimed to rebuild a metals supply chain for America with a smelter planned for Arkansas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
If she didn’t tend to the house, she was apt to find clothes, shoes, open rice bags, cans of beans, and dirty dishes strewn about everywhere.
From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini
“As hundred-year comparators go, that’s apt. But fusion would be like fire” in its watershed effect on civilization.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 6, 2026
I also know I do have a choice to rent a cheap, air conditioned apt. with good service.
From New York Times ● Mar. 12, 2018
He references the North Korean leader's description of Americans as "bloodthirsty dogs" but suggests "that metaphor's not very apt. We're just a bunch of simple fidget-spinning goofy dorks, who probably couldn't find your country on a map."
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2017
"Wherever he was, he seemed to have a pen in his pocket to capture the moment. He made so many drawings. So the notion of abundance is apt. It relates to a harvest."
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 20, 2016
He once again urged me to come out before Christmas, saying he was unsure of his stay at his current apt. and the rainy season begins in Nov.-March.
From Through these Eyes The courageous struggle to find meaning in a life stressed with cancer by Lauren Ann Isaacson
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.
