agile

adjective

ag·​ile ˈa-jəl  -ˌjī(-ə)l 

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

ˈa-jə(l)-lē 

-ˌjī(-ə)(l)-lē

adverb

Synonyms of agile

• graceful

Examples of agile in a Sentence

Leopards are very fast and agile.

the expressive movements of agile dancers

Recent Examples on the Web

Swapping bulky eyes for agile whiskers makes autonomous search-and-rescue bots smaller, lighter, and smarter. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026

Speed matters To be effective, the Loss and Damage Fund needs to be more agile and responsive to the needs of the most climate-vulnerable countries. — Tarun Gopalakrishnan, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026

Recommended by Our Editors The sheer aura of this sandbox, and your agile tools for exploring it, almost make the rest of Control Resonant feel perfunctory by comparison. — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026

Volkswagen To make a comparatively heavy EV handle more like an agile hot hatch, VW has deployed electronic differential locks and adaptive dampers. — New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin agilis, from agere "to drive, be in motion, do, perform" + -ilis -ile entry 1 — more at agent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for agile

• fragile

Kids Definition

agile

adjective

ag·​ile ˈaj-əl  -ˌīl 

1

: able to move quickly and easily : nimble

an agile gymnast

2

: mentally quick

an agile thinker

agilely

-ə(l)-lē 

-ˌī(l)-lē

adverb

agility

ə-ˈjil-ət-ē

noun

Etymology

Latin agilis "nimble, agile," from agere "to drive, act, do" — related to act, agent