agile
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.able to move your body quickly and easily.
adj.characterised by physical dexterity, grace, and the ability to move with speed and ease.
Simple“The agile cat jumped from the floor to the top of the high shelf.”
In context“Despite his age, the mountain guide remained remarkably agile, navigating the rocky terrain with effortless precision.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.using a way of working that breaks a big project into small parts so you can make changes quickly.
adj.relating to a methodology of project management, especially in software, characterised by the division of tasks into short phases and frequent reassessment.
Simple“Our team uses agile methods to finish software updates every two weeks.”
In context“Adopting an agile approach allowed the development team to respond to user feedback in real-time rather than waiting for a final release.”
UsageOften capitalised as 'Agile' when referring to the specific methodology.
Teacher's tipIn business contexts, this is often contrasted with 'Waterfall' project management.
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.the name for a fast, flexible way of managing projects.
n.the philosophy or practice of agile software development.
Simple“The company decided to switch to agile to improve their productivity.”
In context“The transition to agile required a complete shift in the department's culture and communication style.”
UsageUsed as an uncountable noun to describe the system itself.
Teacher's tipThis noun use is common in corporate environments but less frequent in general conversation.
Synonymsagile methodology
“Like everything else in this show it’s agile, slotting into place without heavy effort.”
“Quick, comfortable, roomy, and agile for a large electric SUV.”
From earlier agil, borrowed from Latin agilis (“agile, nimble”), from agō (“do, act; move”). See agent.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.