What does competent mean?
Word: Competent
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Competent means having enough skill or knowledge to do something well.
Synonyms: skilled, able
Antonyms: unskilled
How do you spell competent?
Syllables: com - pe - tent
Tricky part: It ends in ent, not ant: competant is the usual slip.
Watch out for: competant, competint
Memory tip: A competent worker carries a job right through to the end, and the word ends with the e and n of end.
Competent in a sentence
Example 1: Our new cricket coach is very competent.
Example 2: Priya is a competent swimmer and can swim two lengths easily.
Example 3: You need a competent electrician to fix this wiring.
Fun Fact
Competent goes back to a Latin verb that could mean to come together or to be suitable, and a competent worker is well suited to the job.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
competent
a) efficient
b) proficient
c) incapable
d) qualified
Show answer
c) incapable. Someone incapable cannot manage the task; a competent person can.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Meera's grandmother is a compitent tailor who can stitch a blouse in an hour.
a) compitent
b) stitch
c) grandmother
d) tailor
Show answer
a) compitent. Compete gives the e after the p.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) punctual
b) competent
c) talanted
d) reliable
Show answer
c) talanted. Talent has an e before the nt, and talented keeps it.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
tpoeemcnt
a) comment
b) component
c) contempt
d) competent
Show answer
d) competent. Comment has no p, contempt is one letter short, and component needs a second o.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A competent driver is one who ____.
a) only drives a bright red car
b) handles the car safely in traffic
c) has never sat behind a wheel
d) drives at night but never by day
Show answer
b) handles the car safely in traffic
2. The new librarian proved competent within a week. This means she ____.
a) wanted to leave the job
b) forgot where books went
c) was late every morning
d) handled her duties well
Show answer
d) handled her duties well
