apt

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈæpt/ UK /æpt/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like opt /æ/ vs /ɑ/

Freq #16346

Meanings

1

adj
Suitable or appropriate for the situation.

"Bittersweet" is an apt word for how I felt about leaving.
2

adj
Likely or having a tendency to do something.

He is apt to forget appointments unless you remind him.
3

adj
Quick to learn; clever.

She was an apt pupil who mastered the piano in months.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · suitable or appropriate for... appropriate apposite fitting

2 adj · likely or having a tendency... inclined prone liable

3 adj · quick to learn; clever. clever able

Word family

Forms apteraptest

Derived forms adaptaptagramaptly aptnessaptonymaptronymoveraptunapt

Related forms adept aptitude attitude inept

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

apt pupil
a learner who understands quickly and shows a natural ability to improve

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Apt entered Middle English from Latin aptus “fitted,” the past participle of apere “to fasten.” It originally meant “suited” or “appropriate.”

Etymology

From Old French apte, from Latin aptus (“suitable, fitting”). Either from obsolete apere (“to fasten, to join, to fit”), akin to apisci (“to reach, attain”) (compare with Greek ἅπτειν (áptein, “to fasten”) and Sanskrit आप्त (āpta, “fit”), from आप् (āp, “to reach, attain”)) or from *h₂ep- (“to join, fit (in)”).

apte Old French aptus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# apt

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈæpt/
**IPA (UK):** /æpt/
**Frequency rank:** 16346

## Meanings
1. Suitable or appropriate for the situation.
2. Likely or having a tendency to do something.
3. Quick to learn; clever.

## Examples
- "Bittersweet" is an apt word for how I felt about leaving.
- He is apt to forget appointments unless you remind him.
- She was an apt pupil who mastered the piano in months.

## Derived Forms
- adapt
- aptagram
- aptly
- aptness
- aptonym
- aptronym
- overapt
- unapt

## Related Forms
- adept
- aptitude
- attitude
- inept

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: apte
- Root: aptus

## Etymology
From Old French apte, from Latin aptus (“suitable, fitting”). Either from obsolete apere (“to fasten, to join, to fit”), akin to apisci (“to reach, attain”) (compare with Greek ἅπτειν (áptein, “to fasten”) and Sanskrit आप्त (āpta, “fit”), from आप् (āp, “to reach, attain”)) or from *h₂ep- (“to join, fit (in)”).

## AI Etymology
Apt is from Old French apte, from Latin aptus (“suitable, fitting”). Either from obsolete apere (“to fasten, to join, to fit”), akin to apisci (“to reach, attain”) (compare with Greek ἅπτειν (áptein, “to fasten”) and Sanskrit आप्त (āpta, “fit”), from आप् (āp, “to reach, attain”)) or from *h₂ep- (“to join, fit (in)”). Important historical forms include Old French apte, and Latin aptus. In present-day use, it can mean suitable or appropriate for the situation, or likely or having a tendency to do something. Derived formations include adapt, aptagram, aptly, aptness, aptonym.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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apt