agile

adjective

ag·​ile ˈa-jəl  -ˌjī(-ə)l 

1

: marked by ready ability to move with quick easy grace

an agile dancer

2

: having a quick resourceful and adaptable character

an agile mind

agilely

ˈa-jə(l)-lē 

-ˌjī(-ə)(l)-lē

adverb

Synonyms

• featly
• feline
• graceful
• gracile
• light
• light-footed
• light-foot
• lightsome
• lissome
• lissom
• lithe
• lithesome
• nimble
• spry

Examples of agile in a Sentence

Leopards are very fast and agile.

the expressive movements of agile dancers

Recent Examples on the Web

His teeming visual imagination is matched by the agile physicality of Jomo Fray’s cinematography. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2024

Most impressively, the 9×9 feels agile and resists roll without sacrificing comfort. —Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 4 Dec. 2024

Duelist - The Duelists can deal a lot of damage in quick succession and are usually more agile than other heroes. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024

With its lush ’70s pop homage and agile vocal runs, Short n’ Sweet lands like if Olivia Newton-John and Christina Aguilera made a country disco-pop album. —Pitchfork, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin agilis, from agere "to drive, be in motion, do, perform" + -ilis -ile entry 1 — more at agent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

agile

adjective

ag·​ile ˈaj-əl  -ˌīl 

1

: able to move quickly and easily : nimble

an agile gymnast

2

: mentally quick

an agile thinker

agilely

-ə(l)-lē 

-ˌī(l)-lē

adverb

agility

ə-ˈjil-ət-ē

noun

Etymology

Latin agilis "nimble, agile," from agere "to drive, act, do" — related to act, agent