adept
Adjective
Easy difficulty
What does “adept” mean?
adjective.very skilled or proficient at something.
SAT Usage
This term often appears in contexts involving expertise, such as discussions about professions, arts, or sports. It emphasizes not just skill, but a high level of proficiency that suggests mastery, distinguishing it from similar words like "skilled," which may imply a lower or more basic level of competence.
Common Confusions
Adept implies a high level of mastery and proficiency, while skilled usually suggests a competent but not necessarily expert level of ability.
Do not choose adept if the context emphasizes clumsiness or lack of skill rather than being very skilled or proficient at something.
Example Sentences
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He was adept at solving complex math problems quickly.
Word Parts: How to Remember “adept”
Break “adept” into its parts: ad- (to, toward). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.
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Prefix:
ad-to, toward (Latin)