English Dictionary

PROFICIENT

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does proficient mean? 

PROFICIENT (adjective)
  The adjective PROFICIENT has 2 senses:

1. having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitudeplay

2. of or relating to technique or proficiency in a practical skillplay

  Familiarity information: PROFICIENT used as an adjective is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


PROFICIENT (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude

Synonyms:

adept; expert; good; practiced; proficient; skilful; skillful

Context example:

the effect was achieved by skillful retouching

Similar:

skilled (having or showing or requiring special skill)

Derivation:

proficiency (the quality of having great facility and competence)

proficiency (skillfulness in the command of fundamentals deriving from practice and familiarity)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to technique or proficiency in a practical skill

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

proficient; technical

Context example:

the technical dazzle of her dancing

Pertainym:

proficiency (skillfulness in the command of fundamentals deriving from practice and familiarity)


 Context examples 


A question about how proficient an individual is at working with percentages.

(How Good At Percentages, NCI Thesaurus)

If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

A question about how proficient an individual is at working with fractions.

(How Good At Fractions, NCI Thesaurus)

A question about how proficient an individual is with calculating a 25 percent reduction.

(How Good Calculating 25 Percent Off, NCI Thesaurus)

A question about how proficient an individual is with calculating a 15 percent tip.

(How Good Calculating 15 Percent Tip, NCI Thesaurus)

I will not oppose such kind politeness; but I should be sorry to be examined by a real proficient.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet and capable of preserving a secret.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"If you want a thing done well, do it yourself." (English proverb)

"Sow with one hand, reap with both." (Albanian proverb)

"Don't ask the singer to sing until he wishes to sing by himself." (Arabic proverb)

"A cheeky person owns half the world" (Dutch proverb)



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