competent adjective

/ˈkɒm.pɪ.tənt/

/ˈkɑːm.pə.t ̬ənt/ adj

Definition

able to do something well

a competent secretary/horse-rider/cook

I wouldn't say he was brilliant but he is competent at his job.

Opposite: incompetent

/ˈkɒm.pɪ.tənt.li/

/ˈkɑːm.pə.t ̬ənt-/ adv

I thought she played the role very competently.

(Definition of competent adjective from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

If a problem preys on your mind, you think about it and worry about it a lot

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.