agile

adjective

ag·​ile ˈa-jəl  -ˌjī(-ə)l 

1

: marked by ready ability to move with quick easy grace

an agile dancer

2

: having a quick resourceful and adaptable character

an agile mind

agilely

ˈa-jə(l)-lē 

-ˌjī(-ə)(l)-lē

adverb

Synonyms

• featly
• feline
• graceful
• gracile
• light
• light-footed
• light-foot
• lightsome
• lissome
• lissom
• lithe
• lithesome
• nimble
• spry

Examples of agile in a Sentence

Leopards are very fast and agile.

the expressive movements of agile dancers

Recent Examples on the Web

It must be integrated into a broader cyber resilience strategy—one that ensures organizations remain agile and adaptive in an increasingly complex threat landscape. —David Redekop, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

Standing at 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 196 pounds, this agile robot can reach a top speed of 5.6 mph (approximately 8.2 feet per second). —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025

This context only reinforces the need to be even more strategic and agile. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2025

Tielemans is not the most athletic, agile or explosive, yet his speed of thought is swifter and above any of those attributes. —Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin agilis, from agere "to drive, be in motion, do, perform" + -ilis -ile entry 1 — more at agent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for agile

• fragile

Kids Definition

agile

adjective

ag·​ile ˈaj-əl  -ˌīl 

1

: able to move quickly and easily : nimble

an agile gymnast

2

: mentally quick

an agile thinker

agilely

-ə(l)-lē 

-ˌī(l)-lē

adverb

agility

ə-ˈjil-ət-ē

noun

Etymology

Latin agilis "nimble, agile," from agere "to drive, act, do" — related to act, agent