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agile

AJ-ul /ˈædʒaɪl/

adjectiveB2IELTSGRETOEFL

neutral

Able to move quickly and easily; having a quick, intelligent, and adaptable mind.

Combines physical nimbleness with rapid, elegant mental adjustment; heavily used in modern software development and organizational theory.

The story behind the word. From Latin 'agilis' (nimble, quick), derived from 'agere' (to set in motion, drive, do). It entered Middle English through French to describe nimble runners and acrobats before acquiring its cognitive and organizational meanings.

Word relationships

nimble: Nimble emphasizes light, precise touch and movement, while agile emphasizes overall speed, flexibility, and coordination.
versatile: Versatile means good at many different tasks, while agile means fast and responsive in movement or thought.

clumsy: Clumsy means lacking grace, coordination, or physical skill.
sluggish: Sluggish means slow-moving, inactive, or lacking quick mental response.

Commonly confused with

fragile: Agile means fast and flexible; fragile means delicate and easily broken.

Word family

agility (noun): Ability to move quickly and easily.

Collocations

agile mind
agile athlete
agile methodology
remain agile

Idioms & expressions

quick on one's feet
light on one's feet

Example sentences

"He was as agile as a monkey, springing across the deck with incredible speed during the sudden squall." Classic sea adventure narrative
"Software firms adopt agile methodologies to release rapid feature updates based on daily customer feedback." Modern technology business development

Memory hook

AGILE: AGEnts of ACTION (agere) act with speed and AGILE grace. Quick in action, light on your feet.

When not to use

Do not use to describe passive submission or submissiveness; agile implies active speed and coordination.

Fun facts

In software engineering, 'Agile' (capitalized) refers to a specific project management framework created by 17 developers in 2001.