talented
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of talented
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English: “inclined, disposed”; talent + -ed 3
Explanation
If you're really good at something, you're talented. Both a professional violinist and an amateur singer with a beautiful voice can be called talented musicians. Talented wordsmiths will know that some other ways to say talented include proficient, adept and skilled. This adjective comes from the noun talent, which talented etymologists have traced back to the Greek root talanton, "balance, weight, or sum of money."
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.
And as the season enters its decisive part, this talented but under-the-radar forward could prove crucial in the Gunners' quest for silverware.
From BBC • May 2, 2026
Walter diversified the portfolio into alternatives, which was expanded by his successor, legendary fund manager Jack Meyer, who attracted a number of talented money managers.
From Barron's • May 1, 2026
Arenas returns to a roster that should be even more talented in the 2026-27 season.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026
Rampant layoffs hurt morale and create an exit incentive for other employees, especially talented ones with alternatives.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026
I knew the director of Dracula, Tod Browning, was talented, because people have been talking about his work for decades now.
From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon
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.
