Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

apt

1

[ apt ]

adjective

  1. too apt to slander others.

    Synonyms:

  2. Am I apt to find him at home?

  3. unusually intelligent; able to learn quickly and easily:

    an apt pupil.

    Synonyms: , , , , , ,

  4. suited to the purpose or occasion; appropriate:

    an apt metaphor; a few apt remarks on world peace.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  5. Archaic. prepared; ready; willing.


apt.

2

abbreviation for

plural apts.

apt

1

/ æ /

adjective

  1. suitable for the circumstance or purpose; appropriate
  2. postpositive; foll by an infinitive having a tendency (to behave as specified)
  3. having the ability to learn and understand easily; clever (esp in the phrase an apt pupil )
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

apt.

2

abbreviation for

  1. apartment
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Usage Note

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. liable, likely.
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈٲԱ, noun
  • ˈٱ, adverb
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • · adverb
  • ·Ա noun
  • ·· adjective
  • o·ver··Ա noun
Discover More

Word History and Origins

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 apt2

First recorded in 1900–05
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of apt1

C14: from Latin aptus fitting, suitable, from apere to fasten
Discover More

Synonym Study

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.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

That question is part of what makes them apt faces for this totalitarian support structure — a white-collar power couple eager to secure promotions at a company that’s really going places.

From

This recurring motif may or may not be an apt metaphor for her outlook on life – predators are always waiting to pounce on what’s hers.

From

Perhaps the most apt metaphor for a book set in Los Angeles and Tehran is to simply say, “Liquid” is a book troubling the fault lines.

From

“Calling me an outsider artist … yes, I think it’s apt,” he told the Guardian in 2021.

From

It’s a tender narrative that feels particularly apt during these grim days.

From

Advertisement

Discover More

More About Apt

does apt mean?

Apt means inclined, disposed, or prone to, as in When I’m hungry, I’m apt to be cranky too.

Apt can also mean likely, as in You’re more apt to pass the test if you study first.

Apt also describes something that is suitable or particularly fitting or relevant. An apt description, for example, is a description that is just right.

Finally, apt can also mean unusually intelligent or able to learn quickly and easily. You’ll most often hear it used in the phrase apt pupil or apt student.

Example: That is quite an apt observation coming from a novice.

Where does apt come from?

The first records of the term apt come from the 1300s. It comes from the Latin aptus, meaning “fitting or appropriate.”

Apt. (including the period) is an abbreviation for both apartment and appointment. While the period is often used, it isn’t always. Keep an eye out for apt being used as a shortened form of one of these words. The surrounding text will often give you a clue what the writer means.

Did you know … ?

are some other forms related to apt?

  • aptly (adverb)
  • aptness (noun)
  • overapt (adjective)
  • overaptness (noun)

are some synonyms for apt?

are some words that share a root or word element with apt?

are some words that often get used in discussing apt?

How is apt used in real life?

Try using apt!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for apt?

A. relevant
B. fitting
C. inappropriate
D. suitable

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Apsyrtusapteral