agile
AJ-yl
Agile (adj) means Able to move quickly and easily; nimble. Example: “The gymnast was remarkably agile on the balance beam.”
adj
1
Able to move quickly and easily; nimble.
"The gymnast was remarkably agile on the balance beam."
"Cats are naturally agile climbers."
2
In software development, relating to a style of building software in short, flexible stages with constant team collaboration.
"Our team switched to agile development to ship features faster."
How to use agile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishQuick and light on your feet — physically nimble, or (in tech) working in short flexible cycles.
Common pairings
agile mind
agile software development
agile and flexible
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like agile.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- agiler, more agile
- Superlative
- agilest, most agile
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The gymnast was remarkably _____ on the balance beam.
Etymology
From Latin agilis, "nimble," from agere, "to do or move" — the same root behind "act" and "agent."
Related words
Rhymes for agile
See all rhymes for agile →Frequently asked questions
What does “agile” mean?
The word “agile” means able to move quickly and easily; nimble. In plain terms, quick and light on your feet — physically nimble, or (in tech) working in short flexible cycles.
How do you pronounce “agile”?
“Agile” is pronounced AJ-yl (/ˈæd͡ʒ.aɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “agile” in a sentence?
Here is “agile” used in a sentence: “The gymnast was remarkably agile on the balance beam.”
What is another word for “agile”?
Words with a similar meaning to “agile” include active, alert, nimble, brisk, lively and quick.
What is the opposite of “agile”?
The opposite of “agile” — its antonyms — is unagile.
What part of speech is “agile”?
“Agile” is an adjective.
Where does the word “agile” come from?
The word “agile” comes from Latin. From Latin agilis, "nimble," from agere, "to do or move" — the same root behind "act" and "agent.".
Is “agile” a common word?
“Agile” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include agile:
