competent

adjective

com·pe·tent | \ ˈkäm-pə-tənt \

Definition of competent

1 : proper or rightly pertinent

2 : having requisite or adequate ability or qualities : fit a competent teacher a competent piece of work

3 : legally qualified or adequate a competent witness

4 : having the capacity to function or develop in a particular way: such as

a : having the capacity to initiate an immune response following exposure to an antigen antibody production by immunologically competent B cells

b of a bacterial cell : capable of taking up exogenous DNA (as from a plasmid) during genetic transformation natural and artificially-produced competent cells

Other Words from competent Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about competent

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for competent

sufficient, enough, adequate, competent mean being what is necessary or desirable. sufficient suggests a close meeting of a need. sufficient savings enough is less exact in suggestion than sufficient. do you have enough food? adequate may imply barely meeting a requirement. the service was adequate competent suggests measuring up to all requirements without question or being adequately adapted to an end. had no competent notion of what was going on

Examples of competent in a Sentence

… he was tolerated, if not endorsed as the competent painter he was. — Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, 2005 The crafting of fine violins has proceeded for centuries as a secret art, handed down through apprenticeships from generation to generation. It takes 8 years, at least, to train a competent craftsman, decades to hone a master. — Richard Lipkin, Science News, 3 Sept. 1994

Recent Examples on the Web

Quarterback Josh Jackson, a Virginia Tech transfer, looked more than competent -- a rarity in recent years for the Terps -- as Maryland scored the second-most points in its history. — John Talty | Jtalty@al.com, al, "The SEC’s shaky Saturday overshadows big wins," 1 Sep. 2019 And if that meant antagonizing her withholding father by consulting on the presidential campaign of one of his biggest political enemies, well, that's just a bonus for the Roys' most competent and overlooked scion. — Julie Kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Who Won the Succession Game of Thrones This Week?," 12 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'competent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for competent

competent

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of competent

: having the necessary ability or skills : able to do something well or well enough to meet a standard

law : able to take part in a trial

See the full definition for competent in the English Language Learners Dictionary

competent

adjective

com·pe·tent | \ ˈkäm-pə-tənt \

Kids Definition of competent

: capable sense 2, efficient a competent teacher

competent

adjective

com·pe·tent | \ ˈkäm-pət-ənt

competent

Definition of competent

Other Words from competent

Synonyms & Antonyms for competent

Choose the Right Synonym for competent

Examples of competent in a Sentence

First Known Use of competent

History and Etymology for competent

English Language Learners Definition of competent

Kids Definition of competent

competent

Definition of competent

Other Words from competent

Synonyms & Antonyms for competent

Choose the Right Synonym for competent

Examples of competent in a Sentence

First Known Use of competent

History and Etymology for competent

English Language Learners Definition of competent

Kids Definition of competent

WORD OF THE DAY