talent

noun

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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 As a rookie, Murray showed off his talent but the team clearly needed more help around him. — Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, "NFL power rankings: Arizona Cardinals will be 'must-see TV' in 2020 season," 3 July 2020 His spring track season was cut short after schools were closed in mid-March, but his chance to run in Portland gave fans a final opportunity to see his talent before preparing for college. — Eric Sondheimer Columnist, Los Angeles Times, "Nico Young of Newbury Park is selected Gatorade national track and field athlete of the year," 2 July 2020 Clearly, how the Lakers and Clippers end the season goes beyond relying on their top-heavy talent. — Mark Medina, USA TODAY, "NBA restart: Are the Lakers or Clippers better prepared to resume the season?," 2 July 2020 The creative was chosen to style the July/August 2020 ESSENCE cover featuring Billy Porter not only for his talent but for his visionary approach to using fashion to make a political statement. — Nandi Howard, Essence, "Behind The Cover: Billy Porter Wears Custom Aliétte For ESSENCE July/August 2020 Issue," 30 June 2020 His talent will live on for a long time, but the loss of his kindness and decency leaves a hole in our hearts. — Christian Holub, EW.com, "Rob Reiner, Alan Alda, more pay tribute to comedy legend Carl Reiner: 'He is irreplaceable'," 30 June 2020 To do this, managers must understand what their Black talent needs right now and in the future to excel at work—from our sense of belonging to our ability to see advancement opportunities. — Erin L. Thomas, Quartz at Work, "How companies can pull up for Black employees during a race crisis," 22 June 2020 Again, his talent was obvious, standing out even in a field with names like Al Unser Jr. and Michael Andretti. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story," 19 June 2020 Corporations looking to invest in their black talent will send their high-performing employees to these conferences. — Crystal E. Ashby, Fortune, "There is no shortage of black talent in corporate America," 18 June 2020

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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Last Updated

8 Jul 2020

Cite this Entry

“Talent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/talent. Accessed 13 Jul. 2020.

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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

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