efficient

ef·fi·cient

adjective \i-ˈfi-shənt\

Definition of EFFICIENT

1

: being or involving the immediate agent in producing an effect <the efficient action of heat in changing water to steam>

2

: productive of desired effects; especially : productive without waste <an efficient worker>

— ef·fi·cient·ly adverb

Examples of EFFICIENT

1. <that manual lawn mower is not a very efficient tool for doing a huge yard>
2. Like a page-turner of a novel, [Nomar] Garciaparra keeps you eager to see what comes next, especially this season, when he will have the most efficient RBI machine in baseball, free-agent signee Manny Ramirez, riding shotgun with him. —Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated, 5 Mar. 2001
3. Originally designed for the preparation of desserts, the woks eventually proved their versatility as efficient vessels for stir-frying, deep-frying, and the reduction of liquids. —Kemp Miles Minifie, Gourmet, November 1988
4. Wilde was wearing two emeralds, … one on the little finger of each hand. That on the left was the efficient cause of all joys, that on the right of misfortunes. Asked why he continued to wear the one on the right, Wilde said, “One needs misfortunes to live happily.” —Richard Ellmann, Oscar Wilde, (1984) 1988
5. Short and muscular, he is as efficient as a surgeon, cracking eggs with one hand and tossing the shells into the basket under the counter behind him without looking, flipping bread into the slots of a row of toasters, and literally throwing “to go” orders ten feet down the counter to the guy manning the cash register. —Paul Baumann, Commonweal, 18 July 1997

Origin of EFFICIENT

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin efficient-, efficiens, from present participle of efficere

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to EFFICIENT

Synonyms

effectual, efficacious, effective, fruitful, operative, potent, productive

Antonyms

fruitless, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient, inoperative, unfruitful, unproductive, useless

Related Words

hyperefficient, ultraefficient; adequate, capable, competent; accomplished, adept, consummate, experienced, expert, masterly, practiced (also practised), proficient, skilled, skillful, versed, veteran, virtuoso; cogent, convincing, killer, sound, striking, telling, valid; active, dynamic; useful, working; applicable, feasible, functional, practicable, practical, realizable, usable (also useable), workable

Near Antonyms

counterproductive; incapable, incompetent, inexperienced, inexpert, unqualified, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful; abortive, bootless, futile, vain; empty, hollow, idle, pointless, unavailing, unprofitable, unsuccessful; inoperative, worthless

See Synonym Discussion at effective

Rhymes with EFFICIENT

deficient, proficient, sufficient