talent

noun

tal·ent | \ ˈta-lənt

Definition of talent

1a : a special often athletic, creative, or artistic aptitude

b : general intelligence or mental power : ability

2 : the natural endowments of a person

3 : a person of talent or a group of persons of talent in a field or activity

4a : any of several ancient units of weight

b : a unit of value equal to the value of a talent of gold or silver

5 archaic : a characteristic feature, aptitude, or disposition of a person or animal

Other Words from talent Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about talent

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Choose the Right Synonym for talent

gift, faculty, aptitude, bent, talent, genius, knack mean a special ability for doing something. gift often implies special favor by God or nature. the gift of singing beautifully faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function. a faculty for remembering names aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it. a mechanical aptitude bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability. a family with an artistic bent talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed. has enough talent to succeed genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability. has no great genius for poetry knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance. the knack of getting along

Examples of talent in a Sentence

a singer with an enormous amount of talent I have no musical talent. Her artistic talent has been obvious ever since she was a child. They sang a duet in the talent show . She has a job that makes the most of her talents. His experience, skills, and talents make him perfectly suited for the job. There are many good players on the team, but she's a special talent. The company has hired some expensive legal talent for the trial. The team has recruited some of the best talent around. The company is doing a talent search to find the right person for the job.

Recent Examples on the Web

Imagine Air Bud-level talent, with lifesaving capabilities. — Taylor Mead, House Beautiful, "Home Security Camera Catches a Border Collie Saving a Tiny Chihuahua's Life," 15 Apr. 2019 Incredibly likable — seriously, who doesn't like Reese Witherspoon? — the actor has come to represent beauty, talent, family, and entrepreneurship. — Marci Robin, Allure, "Reese Witherspoon and Elizabeth Arden Launched a Lipstick to Support Worldwide Gender Equality," 17 Mar. 2019 Croatia’s fatigue factor, plus France’s raw talent — the defensive pairing of Barcelona star Samuel Umtiti and Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane give Les Blues an advantage — make France the safer pick. — Sean Gregory, Time, "32 Teams Entered, 2 Remain. Your Ultimate Guide to the World Cup Final," 13 July 2018 Netflix spent lavishly to promote its shows, recognizing that such acclaim can be intoxicating for talent, who are leaving traditional TV studios to work with Netflix. — Meg James, latimes.com, "Netflix nudges past HBO to top Emmy nominations list with 112," 12 July 2018 Her latest movie, Dreamland, is an indie project directed by emerging talent Miles Joris-Peyrafitte. — Nicole Saunders, Harper's BAZAAR, "Margot Robbie Wore the Most Insane Sheer Chanel Jumpsuit to the Tribeca Film Festival," 29 Apr. 2019 Scooter Braun, the talent manager behind such acts as Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, also owns a home here. — Candace Jackson, Town & Country, "The Rosewood Miramar Beach Is Montecito's Newest Luxury Hotel—and Private Club For Those Who Want the Real Perks," 27 Apr. 2019 And while wide receiver Emanual Hall and running back Damarea Crockett entered the NFL draft, Missouri still returns a wealth of talent around Bryant. — Charlie Clarke, The Seattle Times, "Clemson transfer Kelly Bryant finds new home at Missouri," 12 Apr. 2019 Bethenny's design talents are also expanding beyond Manhattan's five boroughs. — Sara Rodrigues, House Beautiful, "Real Housewives Star Bethenny Frankel Reveals Her Secret Side Hustle on Instagram," 4 Apr. 2019

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

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More Definitions for talent

talent

noun

English Language Learners Definition of talent

: a special ability that allows someone to do something well

: a person or group of people with a special ability to do something well : a talented person or group

British slang : people who are sexually attractive

See the full definition for talent in the English Language Learners Dictionary

talent

noun

tal·ent | \ ˈta-lənt

Kids Definition of talent

1 : unusual natural ability … Toby had a special talent for getting people off the hook by making the teacher laugh.— Zilpha Keatley Snyder, The Egypt Game

2 : a special often creative or artistic ability

3 : a person or group of people having special ability