adept
gb/ədˈɛpt/ us/ədˈɛpt/
C1
English
ügyes, jártas, szakértő, beavatott
C1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is adept at [doing something] / adept in [field] / adept with [tool]
She’s adept at explaining complex ideas in simple terms.
Nagyon ügyes abban, hogy az összetett gondolatokat egyszerűen elmagyarázza.
He’s adept with spreadsheets and can automate most of the reporting.
Jól bánik a táblázatkezelőkkel, és a jelentések nagy részét automatizálni tudja.
The team is adept in crisis management after years of drills.
Learner examples
I am adept at cooking.
Jól főzök.
She is adept with computers.
Jól bánik a számítógépekkel.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse adept with adapt or adopt. Also, prefer adept at doing (not *adept to do).
Meaning
very skilled at something
Collocations
highly adept
|remarkably adept
|particularly adept
|adept at problem-solving
|adept at negotiating
|adept at handling difficult situations
|adept in mathematics
|adept with technology
|adept with computers
|socially adept
Synonyms
skilled (General and common; slightly less emphatic than adept.)
|
expert (Often suggests deeper knowledge and authority, not just ability.)
|
proficient (More formal; emphasizes competence and training.)
Antonyms
inept (Emphasizes a lack of skill, sometimes clumsiness.)
|
unskilled (Neutral opposite meaning lacking training or ability.)
Themes
skills
|work
|education
Definition
very good at doing something
Very skilled or quick at doing something, especially something that takes practice.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
2
szakértő
B2
Usage pattern:
an adept at [something] / adepts in [field]
As an adept at public speaking, she coached the new managers before the conference.
A nyilvános beszéd szakértőjeként a konferencia előtt ő készítette fel az új vezetőket.
They hired an adept in cybersecurity to assess the company’s risks.
Felvettek egy kiberbiztonsági szakértőt, hogy felmérje a cég kockázatait.
Among the chess adepts at the club, he was known for his endgame technique.
Learner examples
He is an adept at math.
Ő a matematika szakértője.
Common mistake:
As a noun, adept is less common than expert or specialist; avoid using it where a plain word would sound more natural.
Meaning
a skilled person
Collocations
an adept at languages
|an adept at negotiation
|adepts of the craft
|a technical adept
|a political adept
|adepts in the field
|young adepts
|master and adept
|adept and apprentice
|an adept among peers
Synonyms
expert (More common and neutral; often preferred in everyday writing.)
|
specialist (Emphasizes a narrow area of expertise.)
|
master (Suggests the highest level of skill.)
Antonyms
novice (A beginner with little experience.)
|
amateur (Not professional; may imply less skill depending on context.)
Themes
skills
|people
Definition
a person who is very good at something
A person who is very skilled or expert at something.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
3
beavatott
C1
Usage pattern:
an adept of [tradition/discipline]
Only adepts of the order were allowed into the inner chamber.
A rendnek csak a beavatottjai léphettek be a belső kamrába.
The story follows an adept of an ancient tradition who must protect a forbidden text.
A történet egy ősi hagyomány beavatottját követi, akinek meg kell védenie egy tiltott szöveget.
Common mistake:
This sense is uncommon in everyday English; it appears more in literary, fantasy, or historical contexts.
Meaning
initiated member of a group
Collocations
an adept of the order
|adepts of alchemy
|an adept of the occult
|initiated adept
|adepts and initiates
Synonyms
initiate (Focuses on being formally admitted, not necessarily on skill.)
|
disciple (Emphasizes following or learning from a teacher.)
Antonyms
outsider (Someone not belonging to the group.)
|
uninitiated (Not admitted or not familiar with the group’s knowledge.)
Themes
culture
|religion
Definition
a person accepted into a special group (rare)
A person who has been initiated into a special group or tradition, especially in mystical or secret contexts.
Grammar
Dictionary form
adept
IPA
GB/ədˈɛpt/
US/ədˈɛpt/
Syllables & stress
ad - ept (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ept)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: adept
Noun
- Base: adept
- Plural: adepts
Word family
Forms
adepts
noun
Core family
adeptly
adverb
adeptness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
inept
adjective
ineptly
adverb
ineptitude
noun
Expressions
adept at (doing) [something]
1/ədˈɛpt ˈæt dˈuɪŋ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
skilled at an activity
very good at doing something
Examples
- She’s adept at getting stakeholders to agree on a plan.
- He became adept at spotting errors after months of practice.
- They are adept at working under pressure.
Learner examples
- I am adept at drawing.
- She is adept at speaking English.
adept in [field/subject]
1/ədˈɛpt ˈɪn fˈildsəbd͡ʒˈɛkt/
fixed phrase
formal
skilled in a subject area
very good in a subject
Examples
- She’s adept in finance and understands complex risk models.
- The attorney is adept in contract law.
- He’s adept in both theory and practice.
Learner examples
- He is adept in science.
adept with [tool/technology]
1/ədˈɛpt wˈɪθ tˈultɪknələd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
skilled using a tool
very good at using something
Examples
- She’s adept with design software and can prototype quickly.
- He’s adept with a camera, even in low light.
- Most students are adept with smartphones by the time they start high school.
Learner examples
- I am adept with this app.