apprentice
gb/əpɹˈɛntɪs/ us/əpɹˈɛntɪs/
B2
English
~ 9900
Senses
0 senses
unknown
B2
entity
1
person learning a trade on the job
A person who works for a skilled worker to learn a job, often for low pay and for a set time.
Usage pattern:
an apprentice [profession]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "apprentice" with "intern". An apprentice usually trains in a skilled trade (like electrician, carpenter, chef) in a longer, more formal program, while an intern is often a student getting short-term work experience in an office job. Learners also sometimes say "I am an apprentice in cooking"; it is more natural to say "an apprentice chef" or "an apprentice cook".
Synonyms
trainee (A general word for someone being trained for a job; not limited to hands-on trades like an apprentice often is.)
Antonyms
master (A master is a highly skilled worker or craftsperson, the opposite end of the skill and experience scale from an apprentice.)
Collocations
apprentice electrician
|apprentice carpenter
|apprentice chef
|take on an apprentice
|first-year apprentice
|apprentice program
Themes
work
|education
|training
Examples
- She works as an apprentice electrician at a local construction company.
- The company agreed to take on three new apprentices this year.
- After four years as an apprentice chef, he finally ran his own kitchen.
- As an apprentice mechanic, he spends most of his day watching and copying the senior staff.
- The union set minimum pay rates for apprentices in the building trades.
Learner examples
- He is an apprentice carpenter.
- The hair salon has two apprentices.
- I started as an apprentice in a small workshop.
- The factory trains young people as apprentices.
- She became an apprentice to a famous fashion designer.
Noun
C1
entity
2
beginner learning a skill
A beginner who is learning a skill or activity and is not experienced yet.
Usage pattern:
an apprentice [in/at] [field]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this use must refer to a formal job training program. In modern English, "apprentice" can also be used more loosely or metaphorically to mean simply "beginner" in a field, especially artistic or professional areas.
Synonyms
novice (Very close in meaning; "novice" is more general and slightly more formal, while "apprentice" often suggests more direct learning from someone experienced.)
Antonyms
expert (An expert has very high skill and experience, the opposite of a beginner or apprentice.)
Collocations
apprentice writer
|apprentice musician
|political apprentice
|apprentice artist
|as an apprentice
|young apprentice
Themes
education
|abilities
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- As a young apprentice writer, she spent hours copying the style of her favorite authors.
- He was still a political apprentice when he first entered the party.
- The gallery gave several apprentice artists a chance to show their work.
- Even as an apprentice programmer, she could already solve complex problems.
- In those days I was an apprentice journalist, eager but very inexperienced.
Learner examples
- He is still an apprentice writer.
- She is an apprentice musician and plays in a small band.
- I feel like an apprentice in this new job.
- As an apprentice painter, he makes many mistakes.
- When I started, I was only an apprentice cook.
Verb
formal
C1
action
3
to put someone in apprenticeship
To put someone in a job where they work under a skilled person to learn a trade or job.
Usage pattern:
to apprentice [someone] to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to use "apprentice" like a normal verb meaning simply "to learn" (e.g., *"He is apprenticing cooking"*). The verb usually needs an object or complement: "He is apprenticing as a cook" or "He was apprenticed to a cook." It is also less common in modern everyday speech than the noun.
Synonyms
train (A broader, more common verb; "apprentice" specifically means to place someone in an apprenticeship arrangement, usually in a trade.)
Antonyms
dismiss (To dismiss someone is to remove them from a job or position, the opposite of placing them into a training position as an apprentice.)
Collocations
apprenticed to a carpenter
|apprenticed to a lawyer
|apprenticed as a chef
|was apprenticed at fourteen
|to apprentice young workers
Themes
work
|education
|training
Examples
- At sixteen he was apprenticed to a local carpenter.
- Her parents apprenticed her to a dressmaker in the city.
- The firm traditionally apprenticed young people from the surrounding villages.
- He was apprenticed as a chef at one of the best hotels in Paris.
- In those days, poor children were often apprenticed to merchants or craftsmen.
Learner examples
- At fifteen, he was apprenticed to a baker.
- Her uncle apprenticed her to a hairdresser.
- The company apprenticed three students to senior engineers.
- He was apprenticed as a car mechanic.
- Many boys were apprenticed at a young age.
Grammar
Dictionary form
apprentice
IPA
GB/əpɹˈɛntɪs/
US/əpɹˈɛntɪs/
Syllables & stress
ap - pren - tice (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pren)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: apprentice
- Plural: apprentices
Verb
- Base: apprentice
- 3rd Person Singular: apprentices
- Present Participle: apprenticing
- Past: apprenticed
Word family
Forms
apprentices
noun
apprenticing
verb
apprenticed
verb
Core family
apprenticeship
noun B2
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.