Meaning & use
nimble
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparableapproving
Able to move quickly, lightly and easily.
Grammar: Often before a noun for body parts: nimble fingers.
Patterns
- nimble fingers
- nimble on your feet
The nimble goat leaped across the rocks.
Her nimble fingers flew over the piano keys.
He was surprisingly nimble for such a tall man.
adjectivecomparableapproving
Quick to think or respond, and able to adapt to changing situations.
Grammar: Used for minds and organizations: a nimble mind, a nimble company.
Patterns
- a nimble mind
- nimble thinking
The startup stayed nimble and changed its plan within a week.
She has a nimble mind and solves puzzles fast.
A nimble reply got him out of trouble.
Word forms
| comparative | nimbler |
|---|---|
| superlative | nimblest |
Common combinations
- nimble fingers
- The tailor worked with nimble fingers.
- nimble mind
- A nimble mind helps in a quiz.
- nimble on one's feet
- The boxer was nimble on his feet.
- nimble footwork
- Nimble footwork saved him from the puddle.
- stay nimble
- Small firms must stay nimble.
Synonyms and how they differ
- agile
- Agile is a close synonym and also common in business and software, where nimble suggests lightness.
- quick
- Quick refers only to speed, while nimble adds lightness and control.
- spry
- Spry is mainly used for older people who stay active.
- deft
- Deft stresses skill in handling something, usually with the hands.
Opposites
Word family
- nimbly adverb
- in a quick and light way
- nimbleness noun
- the quality of being quick and light
Commonly confused: nimble or nimbus?
nimble vs nimbus
A nimbus is a rain cloud or a halo, and only looks like nimble.
Practice
The tailor's ___ fingers made the tiny stitches look easy.
Choose one answer.
Nimble fingers are quick and skilled. Numb fingers could not sew well, and the other options do not suit fingers.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “nimble”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.