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.
When she studied illustration at RISD, she recalls being surrounded by talented drafters.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
Meanwhile, Keith, Boy Talk’s most talented vocalist, vibrates with rage at his showboating bandmates, particularly his irksome younger brother, and is mourning the sorry state of his marriage.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
"I don't even feel that I'm in a competition. There's such talented artists here, and I'm here to unite. I'm here to spread my light, my colour in this world."
From BBC • May 13, 2026
“Poor Jason Bateman. How did an actor so charming, talented, attractive and versatile get stuck in so much dreck?”
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
Today, Orson Welles and the talented Mercury team are given credit for producing an exceptional radio program.
From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow
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.
