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

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# masterful

adjective (masterful; more masterful, most masterful)

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

## Everyday

1. Showing great skill: «a masterful performance». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/masterful/#m1)
2. Strong, sure and in control, liking to give orders: «a masterful manner». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/masterful/#m2)

### In the lessons

In sports, music and art lessons a masterful performance is excellent. In stories a masterful character takes charge; in The Wind in the Willows Badger is masterful when he takes charge of Toad, and Toad likes to think of himself as a masterful driver.

### Examples

- The pianist gave a masterful performance. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/masterful/#x1)
- Badger spoke in a masterful voice and Toad obeyed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/masterful/#x2)
- She scored a masterful goal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/masterful/#x3)
- The captain had a masterful way of giving orders. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/masterful/#x4)
- The book is a masterful story of friendship. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/masterful/#x5)
- Toad imagined himself a masterful motorist. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/masterful/#x6)

### Note

Two senses: very skilful, and bossy/commanding. Some people use «masterly» only for skilful and «masterful» for commanding, but both are used for skill today. Adverb: masterfully.

## On Mova

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