[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/competent/)

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# competent

adjective (competent; more competent)

«competent» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Competent means able to do something well enough or properly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/competent/#m1)
2. (law) Allowed or able by law to decide or act. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/competent/#m2)

### In the lessons

In school reports (a competent reader), jobs (a competent driver), safety and law.

### Examples

- She is a competent swimmer now. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/competent/#x1)
- We need a competent adult to supervise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/competent/#x2)
- The doctor was calm and competent. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/competent/#x3)
- He's a competent cook but not a great one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/competent/#x4)
- Is he competent to sign the papers? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/competent/#x5)
- Only a competent adult should use the chainsaw. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/competent/#x6)
- He engaged a competent dragon to look after her, and also a respectable griffin whose birth and upbringing he knew all about. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/competent/#x7)

### Note

«Competent» can sound like «OK, good enough», not «excellent». Opposite: incompetent. Pattern: competent at/in something.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «competent» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/competent/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«competent» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/competent.html) on Mova free.