Word
competent
Meanings
having enough skill, knowledge, or ability to do a job or task well
able to deal with a situation effectively and responsibly
Definition
Having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something well.
Someone who is competent can perform a task to an acceptable standard because they have the right skills and understanding. It often suggests reliability and efficiency rather than exceptional talent. It can also describe a person who is capable of dealing with a particular situation responsibly.
Examples
- I finally feel competent enough to lead the meeting without relying on my notes.
- She is competent at troubleshooting the software, even when the error is hard to reproduce.
- They hired a competent project manager who kept the schedule realistic and the team focused.
- You seem competent in French, so could you summarize the article for your classmates?
- He remained competent under pressure and coordinated the response in a calm, systematic way.
Common mistake
Learners often use "competent" to mean "competitive," but "competent" means capable, not eager to compete.
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.