proficient

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If your partner needs help learning how to skate and you are proficient, that is all the better.

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Definitions (9)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. adjective Having or marked by an advanced degree of competence, as in an art, vocation, profession, or branch of learning.
  2. noun An expert; an adept.
  3. Syntax Note
    Synonyms: proficient, adept, skilled, skillful, expert
    These adjectives mean having or showing knowledge, ability, or skill, as in a profession or field of study. Proficient implies an advanced degree of competence acquired through training: is proficient in Greek and Latin.
    Adept suggests a natural aptitude improved by practice: became adept at cutting the fabric without using a pattern.
    Skilled implies sound, thorough competence and often mastery, as in an art, craft, or trade: a skilled gymnast who won an Olympic medal.
    Skillful adds to skilled the idea of natural dexterity in performance or achievement: is skillful in the use of the hand loom.
    Expert applies to one with consummate skill and command: an expert violinist who played the sonata flawlessly.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (2)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

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Examples (50)

  • She had been dangerously proficient, as Hannah said. —  Piers Anthony - [Xanth 29] - Pet Peeve (2005)
  • That definition of "proficient," educators say, is part of the reason so many schools fail to make AYP. —  The Herald | HeraldOnline.com - Front
  • "Taking into consideration that in South Carolina, proficient is above grade level, and given some kids 'disabilities, 100 proficient is unreasonable." —  The Herald | HeraldOnline.com - Front
  • Students who score partially proficient, proficient or advanced on CSAP qualify for Adequate Yearly Progress proficiency, according to the Colorado Department of Education. —  GJSentinel - Latest News Headlines
  • Eight of these students scored proficient, and 34 did not. —  Columbia Missourian: Latest Articles
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Related

Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

skilled ·  adept ·  knowledgeable ·  talented ·  dexterous ·  agile ·  efficacious ·  resourceful ·  apt ·  astute ·  feasible ·  literate
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Latin prōficiēns, prōficient-, present participle of prōficere, to make progress; see profit.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. = Old French proficient = Spanish Portuguese Italian proficiente, from Latin proficien(t-)s, present participle of proficere, go forward, advance, make progress, succeed, be profitable or useful, from pro, forth, forward, + facere, make, do: see fact. Cf. profit.
 

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/prəˈfɪʃənt/
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