coherent

/kəʊˈhɪərənt/ (bre, ipa) · /kəʊˈhɪrənt/ (ame, ipa) · /kō-ˈhir-ənt -ˈher-/ (ame, mw)

coherent — adjective

  • coherentpositive
  • more coherentcomparative
  • most coherentsuperlative

1. When a theory, argument, or plan is coherent, every part supports the others in

1.形容詞C2
釋義

When a theory, argument, or plan is coherent, every part supports the others in a logical way, so the whole thing is easy to follow and understand.

例句

The professor's explanation was so coherent that even the new students understood the difficult topic.

pattern: so coherent that — showing degree and result

A good essay needs a coherent argument that moves logically from point to point.

collocation: coherent argument

同義詞
  • logical

    focuses on correct reasoning rather than structural unity

  • consistent

    emphasizes that no part contradicts another

  • well-organized

    informal; highlights structural arrangement

  • clear

    broader; can mean easy to perceive in any sense

反義詞
  • incoherent

    direct opposite; ideas do not connect or follow

  • disjointed

    suggests parts feel disconnected or unrelated

  • confused

    broader; unclear or jumbled in any way

文法句型

coherent + noun

verb + coherent + noun

用法筆記

Frequently used in academic and professional writing with nouns such as argument, plan, theory, strategy, explanation, and narrative.

常見錯誤

The coherent essay got a good grade.
The essay had a coherent argument that moved logically from start to finish.
💡'coherent' describes the logical fit between ideas, not the essay as a whole object.

2. A person who is coherent speaks clearly and organizes their words well, so liste

2.形容詞C2
釋義

A person who is coherent speaks clearly and organizes their words well, so listeners can easily understand what they are saying.

例句

After the accident, Leila was too shaken to be coherent when the police questioned her.

pattern: too + adjective + to — shows inability to speak clearly

The patient was feverish and could not give a coherent account of what had happened.

collocation: give a coherent account

同義詞
  • articulate

    suggests skill in expressing thoughts clearly and fluently

  • lucid

    emphasizes clarity of thought, especially after confusion

  • clear-spoken

    informal; focuses on intelligibility of speech

反義詞
  • incoherent

    unable to speak clearly or make sense

  • confused

    broader; can refer to thinking rather than speech

  • rambling

    speaks without clear structure or direction

文法句型

coherent + noun

too + adjective + to + verb

could barely + verb + coherent

用法筆記

Often occurs with adverbs of degree such as barely, hardly, or quite. Frequently appears in contexts where a person is under stress, ill, or exhausted.

常見錯誤

He was coherent after drinking coffee.
She was well enough to give a coherent account of what happened after a full night of rest.
💡'coherent' refers specifically to organized speech, not general mental alertness.