aptitude
a natural ability or talent for acquiring a particular skill
Word origin: From Latin aptitudo, fitness, from aptus fit.
Aptitude in a sentence
Here are example sentences showing aptitude in a sentence.
His aptitude for languages allowed him to become fluent in Mandarin within two years.
Early tests revealed a striking aptitude for languages that her teachers had overlooked.
Quick GRE check
3 questions, about 2 minutes. How would you do on the real test?
Verbal · Text Completion
The novelist's late style is admired precisely for its blank: every superfluous phrase has been pared away, leaving prose of startling economy.
Using “aptitude” well
Aptitude denotes a natural capacity to learn or do something well, emphasizing potential more than current accomplishment. It is the talent for acquiring a skill, not the skill itself.
More GRE words starting with A
to lower in rank, dignity, or self-respect
to make someone feel embarrassed or ashamed
to lessen in intensity or amount
to formally give up power or responsibility
departing from what is normal or expected
a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected
a state of temporary suspension or inactivity
to regard with strong disgust or hatred
Questions about “aptitude”
See these words the way the GRE tests them.
Take the free 39-minute GRE Quick Mock Test and meet words like this inside real Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions, with a worked solution for every answer.