agile

/ˈædʒaɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈædʒl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈa-jəl -ˌjī(-ə)l/ (ame, mw)

agile — adjective

1. describes a person or animal that can change direction, climb, jump, or run smoo

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describes a person or animal that can change direction, climb, jump, or run smoothly without losing balance or speed.

例句

The goat was agile enough to climb the steep cliff above the village.

predicative: be agile enough to + verb

Linnea is so agile that she leapt over the fence in one smooth motion.

intensifier: so agile that…

同義詞
  • nimble

    near-synonym; emphasises light, neat movement, often of fingers or feet.

  • lithe

    suggests slim, graceful flexibility, often of dancers or cats.

  • spry

    informal; usually praises an older person who is still active.

反義詞
  • clumsy

    moves awkwardly and bumps into things.

  • stiff

    joints or muscles that do not bend easily.

用法筆記

Subject is typically a person, animal, or body part. Often paired with verbs of movement (leap, climb, dodge, turn). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about the body, not the mind.

常見錯誤

❌My grandmother is very agility for her age.
✅My grandmother is very agile for her age.
💡'agility' is the noun; 'agile' is the adjective.

2. describes a mind or thinker that takes in new facts fast, switches between ideas

2.形容詞C1
釋義

describes a mind or thinker that takes in new facts fast, switches between ideas easily, and finds clever answers under pressure.

例句

The lawyer has an agile mind and answered every question without hesitation.

common collocation: agile mind

Daily puzzles can keep your brain agile well into old age.

keep + brain/mind + agile

同義詞
  • sharp

    very common; suggests a quick, accurate thinker.

  • quick-witted

    good at clever or funny replies in the moment.

  • astute

    more formal; suggests careful judgement, not just speed.

反義詞
  • slow

    takes a long time to understand or react.

  • dull

    lacks energy and quickness in thinking.

用法筆記

Subject is usually 'mind', 'brain', 'thinking', or 'thinker'. Often modified by 'mentally' or 'intellectually'. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is metaphorical and never describes the body.

常見錯誤

❌She is agile in math.
✅She has an agile mind for math.
💡'agile' (mental sense) modifies a noun like 'mind' or 'thinking', not a topic directly.

3. describes a way of running projects or teams that breaks the work into short cyc

3.形容詞C2
釋義

describes a way of running projects or teams that breaks the work into short cycles, checks results often, and changes the plan whenever new information comes in.

例句

The Berlin office uses agile methods, so teams meet every morning to review progress.

collocation: agile methods / agile methodology

After moving to an agile workflow, the developers now ship features every two weeks.

agile workflow / agile process

同義詞
  • adaptive

    stresses the ability to change to fit new conditions.

  • lean

    related management style focused on cutting waste and short cycles.

  • flexible

    broader; any system that can be adjusted, not only project work.

反義詞
  • waterfall

    traditional rival approach where each stage finishes before the next begins.

  • rigid

    process that cannot be changed once it is set.

用法筆記

Often capitalised as 'Agile' when naming the formal software-development framework. Typical noun partners: methods, methodology, workflow, team, project, sprint, transformation. Distinguish from senses 1 and 2: subject is an organisation, process, or way of working, not a person's body or mind.

常見錯誤

❌We do agile in our company.
✅We use agile methods in our company.
💡'agile' is an adjective; pair it with a noun like 'methods', 'workflow', or 'team'.