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

• featly
• feline
• graceful
• gracile
• light
• light-footed
• light-foot
• lightsome
• lissome
• lissom
• lithe
• lithesome
• nimble
• spry

Examples of agile in a Sentence

Leopards are very fast and agile.

the expressive movements of agile dancers

Recent Examples on the Web

This necessity underscores a broader industry imperative: the development of more agile and informed regulatory navigation strategies that can handle the nuances of regional and local regulations. —William Mullane, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024

Now with over 5,000 members, NVIDIA Inception elevates select agile and aggressive startups that are driving innovation and reinventing how industries approach key problems using AI. —Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024

The team notes that while similar experiments created extremely agile quadrupedal robots (see: Boston Dynamics Spot) in the past, much less work has been conducted for two-legged, humanoid machines. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2024

One Network offers the most agile solution in the market. —Steve Banker, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

As companies embrace virtual collaboration tools and adopt agile decision-making processes, the rationale for mid-level management roles and their associated salaries has significantly diminished. —Ebony Flake, Essence, 24 Mar. 2024

Rather than a lumbering corporation, Bayer will emerge as agile and bold as a startup–but one with operations in more than 100 countries. —Bill Anderson, Fortune, 21 Mar. 2024

The more powerful, agile missile is designed to strike faraway U.S. targets in the region, specifically the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, home to U.S. military bases. —Timothy H.j. Nerozzi Fox News, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2024

Still, killer whales are agile hunters, says Pitman. —Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024

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

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