fluent
[ floo-uhnt ]
Origin of fluent
1First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin fluent- (stem of fluēns ) “flowing,” present participle of fluere; see -ent
synonym study For fluent
1, 2. Fluent, glib, voluble may refer to a flow of words. Fluent suggests the easy and ready flow of an accomplished speaker and is usually a term of commendation: a fluent and interesting speech. Glib implies an excessive fluency divorced from sincerity or profundity; it often suggests talking smoothly and hurriedly to cover up or deceive, not giving the hearer a chance to stop and think; it may also imply a plausible, prepared, and well-rehearsed lie: He had a glib answer for everything. Voluble implies the overcopious and often rapid flow of words characteristic of a person who loves to talk: She overwhelmed him with her voluble answer. See also eloquent.
Other words from fluent
- flu·en·cy, flu·ent·ness, noun
- flu·ent·ly, adverb
- non·flu·en·cy, noun
- non·flu·ent, adjective
- non·flu·ent·ness, noun
- o·ver·flu·en·cy, noun
- o·ver·flu·ent, adjective
- o·ver·flu·ent·ness, noun
- trans·flu·ent, adjective
- un·flu·ent, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for fluent
fluent
/ (ˈfluːənt) /
adjective
able to speak or write a specified foreign language with facility
spoken or written with facility: his French is fluent
easy and graceful in motion or shape
flowing or able to flow freely
Origin of fluent
1C16: from Latin: flowing, from fluere to flow
Derived forms of fluent
- fluently, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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