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Meaning & use

talent

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈtælənt/
US/ˈtælənt/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable or uncountable

    A natural ability to do something well, especially something creative or artistic.

    Grammar: Can be countable when referring to a specific ability (a talent for music) or uncountable when referring to the quality in general (full of talent).

    Patterns

    • a talent for something
    • have talent
    • show talent

    She has a real talent for drawing.

    His talent as a singer was obvious from a young age.

    The school encourages students to develop their talents.

  2. noununcountable

    People with a natural ability to do something well, considered as a group.

    Grammar: Used to talk about skilled people collectively, often in business or entertainment.

    Patterns

    • a pool of talent
    • attract talent
    • keep talent

    The company is always looking for new talent.

    The team has a lot of young talent.

    We need to attract top talent to stay competitive.

  3. nouncountable

    A person who has a natural ability to do something well.

    Grammar: Often used in a positive way to describe someone skilled.

    Patterns

    • a talent for something
    • a talented person

    She is a talent to watch.

    The show features local talents.

Word forms

pluraltalents

Common combinations

natural talent
He has a natural talent for languages.
talent show
The school is holding a talent show next week.
talent for
She has a talent for making people laugh.
waste talent
Don't waste your talent on such trivial things.

Synonyms and how they differ

gift
Often suggests a special ability given by nature or God; can be more emphatic than talent.
aptitude
More formal and often refers to a natural ability to learn or do a particular type of work.
flair
Emphasizes a stylish or original way of doing something, often in creative fields.

Word family

talented adjective
Having a natural ability to do something well.
talentless adjective
Having no natural ability; often used critically.

Commonly confused: talent or skill?

talent vs skill

Skill is usually developed through training, while talent is often seen as innate.

Practice

She has a natural ___ for music.

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