agile

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adjective ag·ile \ ˈa-jəl , -ˌjī(-ə)l \

Definition of agile

1 :marked by ready ability to move with quick easy grace

an agile dancer

2 :having a quick resourceful and adaptable character

an agile mind

—

agilely

play \-jə(l)-lē, -ˌjī(l)-lē\ adverb

See agile defined for English-language learners

See agile defined for kids

Examples of agile in a Sentence

Leopards are very fast and agile.
the expressive movements of agile dancers

Recent Examples of agile from the Web

Though killer whales have teeth, and are smaller and more agile, a blow from the massive humpback tail or flipper could be fatal.

— elin kelsey, Smithsonian, "What Humpback Whales Can Teach Us About Compassion," 18 Aug. 2017
Sean Spicer was not agile enough to deal with such a barrage of questions that daily resembled the verbalization of a full broadside from an Iowa-class battleship.

— conrad black, National Review, "White House Shakeup," 1 Aug. 2017
But in the current tech war being waged by airlines and security on one side and terrorists groups on the other, passengers will need to be more agile, accommodating, and flexible than ever.

— dean debiase, Fortune, "How the TSA Is Fighting a Tech War With Terrorists," 28 July 2017
Within weeks, the normally agile mink were staggering about the cages, their legs plunging through gaps in the wire mesh.

— john fauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A family of fatal brain diseases has baffled scientists while infecting new species," 6 July 2017
The agile riverboat slipped out through the flat water at the mouth of the river and into Skilak.

— Alaska Dispatch News, "Deadly winds of Skilak Lake: A family struggles to survive," 1 July 2017
Ordinarily, new warhead pits are produced steadily by technicians at PF-4 for installation in modernized weapons, to replace some of those pits withdrawn for testing, and to keep workers there trained and agile.

— r. jeffrey smith, Science | AAAS, "Safety problems at a Los Alamos laboratory," 30 June 2017
The naturalized Brazilian reserve keeper Guilheme is agile but injury prone, while Vladimir Gabulov is a solid but unspectacular veteran.

— james ellingworth, The Seattle Times, "Russia has reasons for optimism despite Confed Cup exit," 25 June 2017
Is very agile and a four-direction skater with good balance for a big man.

— harvey fialkov, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Panthers add center, defensemen and right wing on final day of NHL draft," 24 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'agile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of agile

Middle French, from Latin agilis, from agere to drive, act — more at agent

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First Known Use: 14th century

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agile Synonyms

Synonyms

graceful, featly, feline, gracile, light, light-footed (also light-foot), lightsome, lissome (also lissom), lithe, lithesome, nimble, spry

Antonyms

awkward, clumsy, gawky, graceless, klutzy, lumbering, ungainly, ungraceful

Related Words

acrobatic, flexible, limber, loose-jointed, pliable, pliant, supple; adroit, deft, dexterous (also dextrous), light-fingered; fleet-footed, sure-footed; athletic, balletic, coordinated

Near Antonyms

uncoordinated; inflexible, rigid, stiff; bungling, inept, maladroit

AGILE Defined for English Language Learners

agile

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adjective

Definition of agile for English Language Learners

: able to move quickly and easily
: quick, smart, and clever

AGILE Defined for Kids

agile

play

adjective ag·ile \ ˈa-jəl \

Definition of agile for Students

1 :able to move quickly and easily

an agile athlete

2 :having a quick mind

an agile thinker

—

agilely

adverb

jumped agilely

Learn More about agile

See words that rhyme with agile Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for agile Spanish Central: Translation of agile Nglish: Translation of agile for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of agile for Arabic speakers

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Examples of agile in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of agile

agile Synonyms

Synonyms

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AGILE Defined for English Language Learners

agile

Definition of agile for English Language Learners

AGILE Defined for Kids

agile

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agilely

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