versatile

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adjective ver·sa·tile \ ˈvər-sə-tᵊl , especially British -ˌtī(-ə)l \

Definition of versatile

1 :embracing a variety of subjects, fields, or skills; also :turning with ease from one thing to another

2 :having many uses or applications

versatile building material

3 :changing or fluctuating readily :variable

a versatile disposition

4 a (1) :capable of turning forward or backward :reversible

a versatile toe of a bird

(2) :capable of moving laterally and up and down

versatile antennae

b of an anther :having the filaments attached at or near the middle so as to swing freely

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versatilely

play \ˈvər-sə-tᵊl-(l)ē, -ˌtī(-ə)l-lē\ adverb

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versatileness

play \ˈvər-sə-tᵊl-nəs, -ˌtī(-ə)l-nəs\ noun

See versatile defined for English-language learners

See versatile defined for kids

Examples of versatile in a Sentence

Horses stand apart because of their versatile roles in human society, which came to include dairy production, transportation, haulage, plowing, sports, warfare, religion, and status. —Sandra L. Olsen, Natural History, May 2008
Linemen have to be nimble, corners physical and linebackers versatile. —Peter King, Sports Illustrated, 22 Dec. 2008
Adobos are the Philippines' most beloved, and most versatile, dishes. They consist of meat, poultry, fish, or vegetables (such as okra and eggplant) slow-cooked in an aromatic broth of vinegar or coconut milk, garlic, black pepper, bay leaves, and, sometimes, soy sauce until virtually all the liquid has evaporated. —Amy Besa, Saveur, December 2008
This year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to three scientists for their work on a versatile strategy for synthesizing all manner of novel chemical compounds in an environmentally friendly way. … The three scientists focused on a reaction called metathesis … —A. Cunningham, Science News, 15 Oct. 2005
Within weeks [Gerd] Binnig, then 38 and with an infant daughter, worked with a colleague to build a prototype for what has become one of the most versatile scientific tools ever created: the atomic force microscope, or AFM. —Ivan Amato, Fortune, 14 June 2004
She is a versatile athlete who participates in many different sports.
A pocketknife is a versatile tool.

Recent Examples of versatile from the Web

The hoodie: fashion’s equivalent of walking around in a sleeping bag all day (but luckily, much more versatile).

— kara lewis,, kansascity, "Keep it casual: where to buy fall hoodies and more in KC," 29 Aug. 2017
And given her quickness and ability to shoot from the perimeter, Dangerfield could be an important player on a team with versatile, athletic players.

— paul doyle, courant.com, "Lessons As UConn Freshman Learned, Crystal Dangerfield Ready To Step Up," 19 Aug. 2017
Mason thinks McCullough is the most versatile quarterback in the Region.

— mike hutton, Post-Tribune, "Countdown to Football: Michigan City ranked No. 7 by the Post-Tribune," 11 Aug. 2017
Plastics are one of humanity’s most wide-reaching, versatile and practical inventions, an influential creation arguably on par with the smelting of metal, but these unnatural materials have levied high ecological costs.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "America’s Plastic Legacy," 10 Aug. 2017
But a new study suggests that termites of the species Odontotermes obesus (pictured) are quite versatile, and may be able to use everything from wax to glass beads to construct mounds.

— giorgia guglielmi, Science | AAAS, "These termites can use glass beads to build mounds," 12 July 2017
And most outdoor tables are so versatile they can be moved around to serve a multitude of functions.

— tim mckeough, New York Times, "Shopping for Outdoor Dining Tables," 7 July 2017
Tonally, the performances range from earnest (Sherman’s smart, courageous Mara) to crazed (Levine’s raging Governor, who articulates far better than Scott) to versatile satire (McCain in five roles, Armstrong in four).

— by christine dolen, miamiherald, "Mad Cat’s ‘Firemen’ keeps the humor dark," 3 July 2017
Landing Hayward, a versatile in-his-prime forward who averaged 22 points and can score the 3-ball, would be Riley's biggest summer score since LeBron in 2010 – the basketball weight of it accentuated by purely personal reasons.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "Pat Riley must first top Danny Ainge for a chance to topple Lebron James," 1 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of versatile

borrowed from Latin versātilis "able to turn, operated by turning, capable of turning to different tasks," from versāre "to keep turning" (frequentative of vertere "to turn") + -tilis, suffix with the sense "characterized by, obtained by" — more at ¹worth

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1605

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versatile Synonyms

Synonyms

adaptable, all-around (also all-round), protean, universal

Related Words

general-purpose, mixed-use, multipurpose; well-rounded; able, ace, adept, experienced, expert, masterful, proficient, skilled, skillful; adjustable, alterable, changeable, elastic, flexible, fluid, malleable, modifiable, plastic, pliable, pliant, supple, variable

Near Antonyms

limited; amateur, inexperienced

VERSATILE Defined for English Language Learners

versatile

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adjective

Definition of versatile for English Language Learners

: able to do many different things
: having many different uses

VERSATILE Defined for Kids

versatile

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adjective ver·sa·tile \ ˈvər-sə-tᵊl \

Definition of versatile for Students

1 :able to do many different kinds of things

2 :having many uses

a versatile tool

Word Root of versatile

The Latin word vertere, meaning “to turn” or “to change,” and its form versus give us the roots vert and vers. Words from the Latin vertere have something to do with turning or changing. Anything versatile, or able to do or be used for many different things, can change its task easily. A vertebra is a bone in the spine that allows an animal to turn its head or body. To avert is to turn away. To divert is to turn aside onto a new path. To revert is to turn back to a former way of being.