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

Featured will be the talents of Douglas F. Bailey II, Ursula Cataan and Sheri Gross. — cleveland.com, "Free piano concert at Pepper Pike church; Broadway musical tunes come to Cain Park; more: Press Run," 12 July 2019 The Aztecs are hopeful Morrison can stay healthy and display the talent that enabled him to play 12 games for the Wildcats as a true freshman in 2015. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Aztecs officially add two San Diegans among several football transfers," 11 July 2019 After a year of rehabbing his second back surgery, Friday night was supposed to be an unveiling of the talent the Nuggets had been harboring. — Mike Singer, The Denver Post, "Zion Williamson makes thrilling Summer League debut before earthquake hits. Michael Porter Jr. can only watch.," 5 July 2019 Much had been said about the attacking talent the U.S. brought to the World Cup, even on the bench. — Ashley Scoby, Pro Soccer USA, "USWNT star Megan Rapinoe rests sore hamstring, Christen Press steps in to score surreal goal," 4 July 2019 The Mind Flayer’s ability to inhabit the bodies of the citizens of Hawkins without anyone else being any the wiser also evokes the nightmarish body-invasion talents of the Thing, while the grotesque true forms of both monsters are similar, as well. — Time, "Breaking Down the Many Stranger Things Season 3 References You Might Have Missed," 4 July 2019 Her father, Corey, a one-time basketball player at Georgia Tech, drew on Richard Williams’s example in developing the tennis talents of his daughter. — Gerald Marzorati, The New Yorker, "Venus Williams Blazed a Trail for Coco Gauff, Who Looks Like the Future of Tennis," 2 July 2019 When the talent starts to fade in the later years, the great players are able to make up for it with their accumulation of knowledge. — Luke Johnson, nola.com, "How does Saints corner Marshon Lattimore take the next step?," 28 June 2019 Women account for over one-fourth of all the America’s executive talent. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, "More People Named Jeffrey Got Top CEO Jobs Than Women Last Year," 27 June 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