The Meaning of Apt: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of apt? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word apt, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!

Your writing, at its best

Compose bold, clear, mistake-free, writing with Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant

What does the word apt mean?

According to Collins English Dictionary, Your Dictionary, and the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, the word apt is an adjective that means having a tendency to do something, suitable, fitted, expected or anticipated, similar to what pertinent means or what relevant means depending on the varieties of speech. Someone who is apt is able to perform what they are attempting to, exactly suitable, or appropriate. This person might also be quick to understand or extraordinarily smart, which would refer to the implication of a natural disposition or habitual tendency against confrontation. The word apt is pronounced ˈæpt. The word apt can also be used as an abbreviation for apartment. Many things can be described as apt, such as an apt pupil, apt comment, a relevant opinion, apt young man, an apt reply, and more.

Many different languages also contain words that mean apt. You may notice that several of these words look and sound similar to the word apt. These are called cognates, which are formed when two words of different languages have the same root or language of origin. This list of translations of apt is provided by Word Sense.

  •  Ido: apta‎
  •  Nynorsk: egna‎
  •  Japanese: 適切(てきせつ, tekisetsu)
  •  Italian: adatto‎, appropriato‎, idoneo‎ (formal), confacente‎ (formal)
  •  Galician: apto‎ (masc.)
  •  Manx: cooie‎, traaoil‎
  •  Bulgarian: уместен‎, подходящ‎
  •  Bokmål: egnet‎, egna‎
  •  German: geeignet‎, passend‎
  •  Russian: подходя́щий‎, соотве́тствующий‎, уме́стный‎
  •  Finnish: sopiva‎, omiaan (to sth)
  •  Spanish: apto‎, apropiado‎, acertado‎, oportuno‎
  •  Romanian: potrivit‎ (masc.) (n), apt‎ (masc.) (n)
  •  Portuguese: apto‎
  •  Dutch: passend‎, gepast‎, toepasselijk‎
  •  Irish: tráthúil‎ (of speech)
  •  Occitan: apte‎
  •  Swedish: passande‎

What is the origin of the word apt?

According to Etymonline, the word apt has been used since c14 Middle English. This comes from the Old French apte and Latin aptus (ap-tus) which is the past participle of apere (obsolete apere), related to the Latin apisci, Greek ἅπτειν and Sanskrit आप्त. 

How can the word apt be used in a sentence?

The word apt can be used in many different sentences in the English language. Using words in a sentence is a great way to memorize their definitions. Your can also try making flashcards and quizzes to test your knowledge of the definitions of different English language words. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today! Below are a few different examples of the word apt being used in a sentence to help get you started. 

The man was apt for getting support on social media sites, and got over a million signatures on a petition for world peace that he advertised on Facebook and Twitter.

The successful copywriter was apt at creating the bibliographies. She did a seminar for students at Princeton University in their freshman year so that they could learn from the best. 

Bram Stoker was a clever man who was apt at using his wit. In the novel Dracula, he is able to blend his witty humour with the dark subject matter to make a book that is touching and entertaining.

What are synonyms and antonyms of apt?

There are many different words that a person could use in place of the word apt which can be used in an equivalent way. These words and phrases are called synonyms. Learning synonyms is a great way to avoid repeating yourself and also a great way to expand your knowledge of English. This list of synonyms of apt is provided by Power Thesaurus.

  •  pat
  •  proficient
  •  capable
  •  having the know-how
  •  pertinence
  •  tending
  •  smart
  •  bright
  •  germane
  •  able
  •  applicable
  •  prone
  •  clever
  •  not born yesterday
  •  fit
  •  pertinent
  •  ad rem
  •  liable
  •  adroit
  •  advantageous
  •  adapted
  •  opportune
  •  competent
  •  apropos
  •  crack
  •  cunning
  •  brainy
  •  masterful
  •  neat
  •  predisposed
  •  befitting
  •  apposite
  •  proper
  •  appropriate
  •  adequate
  •  suitable
  •  well-timed
  •  right
  •  congruous
  •  given to
  •  perfect
  •  ready
  •  handy
  •  sharp
  •  meet
  •  seasonable
  •  ingenious
  •  quick
  •  auspicious
  •  efficient
  •  intelligent
  •  relevant
  •  ideal
  •  felicitous
  •  well-suited
  •  keen
  •  happy
  •  disposed
  •  talented
  •  exact
  •  skilful
  •  quick-witted
  •  inclined
  •  suited
  •  teachable
  •  minded
  •  fitting
  •  game for
  •  deft
  •  accomplished
  •  correct
  •  given
  •  rightful
  •  decent
  •  expedient
  •  probable
  •  qualified
  •  expert
  •  astute
  •  propitious
  •  good
  •  comme il faut
  •  behooving
  •  the point
  •  skilled
  •  fitted
  •  skillful
  •  becoming
  •  likely
  •  adept
  •  just
  •  equal to
  •  well-chosen
  •  appropriateness
  •  convenient
  •  timely
  •  dexterous
  •  masterly
  •  seemly
  •  brilliant
  •  acceptable
  •  gifted

There are also numerous different words that have the opposite meaning as the word apt. These are called antonyms. Learning antonyms is another quick and easy way to expand your vocabulary of the English language. This list of antonyms for the word apt is also provided by Power Thesaurus.

  •  infelicitous
  •  ass-headed
  •  unbefitting
  •  lacking in propriety
  •  inopportune
  •  deficient
  •  unsuited
  •  unapt
  •  erroneous
  •  bush-league
  •  inaccurate
  •  unfit
  •  incongruous
  •  untoward
  •  substandard
  •  vile
  •  household
  •  dumb as a bag of hammers
  •  out of place
  •  out of character
  •  familiar
  •  idiotic
  •  unrelatable
  •  malapropos
  •  incompatible
  •  baneful
  •  blue
  •  unskilled
  •  inadequate
  •  depressed
  •  unhappy
  •  inapposite
  •  inappropriate
  •  common
  •  inapplicable
  •  incapable
  •  disinclined
  •  commonplace
  •  garden
  •  disagreeable
  •  dumb as dirt
  •  awkward
  •  alright
  •  incorrect
  •  acceptable
  •  lame
  •  stupid
  •  decent
  •  bush
  •  atrocious
  •  fair
  •  unseemly
  •  unintelligent
  •  inferior
  •  wrong
  •  dumb as a box of rocks
  •  imprecise
  •  beyond the pale
  •  execrable
  •  ineligible
  •  unacceptable
  •  indifferent
  •  dull
  •  not good enough
  •  fat-headed
  •  feather-brained
  •  badly chosen
  •  unfitting
  •  flawed
  •  inexact
  •  inept
  •  indecent
  •  adequate
  •  ill-suited
  •  misbecoming
  •  poor
  •  inapt
  •  unsatisfactory
  •  not good
  •  false
  •  fatuous
  •  unbeseeming
  •  out of keeping
  •  dissatisfactory
  •  indecorous
  •  improper
  •  unlikely
  •  slow
  •  unsuitable
  •  everyday
  •  awful
  •  unbecoming
  •  all right
  •  irrelevant
  •  bad
  •  undue
  •  ill
  •  bastard
  •  unmeet
  •  frequent

Overall, the word apt means fitting or appropriate. This word is also frequently used to refer to someone who is fitted to do something or who has a natural talent for it. 

Sources:

  1. apt: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense 
  2. Apt Meaning | Best 16 Definitions of Apt | Your Dictionary 
  3. Apt antonyms – 688 Opposites of Apt | Power Thesaurus 
  4. Apt synonyms – 1 890 Words and Phrases for Apt | Power Thesaurus 
  5. apt | Origin and meaning of apt | Online Etymology Dictionary