Sample sentences for COMPETENT

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Definition

capable (able to do something in a generally satisfactory manner) — sometimes specifically to have legal capability

In the field of law, competent has the specialized meaning of being legally qualified to do something such as to be mentally fit to make reasonable decisions; or to have jurisdiction or authority to take an action.

In classic literature, a competency can refer to having an income or assets to support living expenses.

She is a competent student and I have no doubt she will be a competent lawyer one day.

competent = sufficiently capable

Is he competent to stand trial?

competent = legally capable (of sound mind)

She is a competent; though not an outstanding manager.

competent = capable of doing an adequate job

If a person keeps faithfully busy each hour of the working day, he can count on waking up some morning to find himself one of the competent ones of his generation.
William James

competent = sufficiently capable

She is competent on both keyboard and violin.

competent = sufficiently capable

Mother was competent in providing for us.
Maya Angelou -- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

competent = sufficiently capable

If true, it means that McCandless wasn't quite as reckless or incompetent as he has been made out to be.
Jon Krakauer -- Into the Wild

incompetent = not sufficiently capable

(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in incompetent means not and reverses the meaning of competent. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)

They believed that excuses were tools of the incompetent and forced every cadet to believe the same.
Wes Moore -- The Other Wes Moore

incompetent = not sufficiently capable

(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in incompetent means not and reverses the meaning of competent. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)

Competence was attractive.
Markus Zusak -- The Book Thief

competence = ability

It was nice to be the competent one for a change.
Scott Westerfeld -- Uglies

competent = sufficiently capable

"Drummle," said I, "you are not competent to give advice on that subject."
Charles Dickens -- Great Expectations

competent = sufficiently capable

But you realize we had to get permission from someone in your immediate family. You were incompetent to agree to this yourself.
Daniel Keyes -- Flowers for Algernon — Novel

incompetent = not legally qualified

(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in incompetent means not and reverses the meaning of competent. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)

The director of the CIA said Pakistan was "either involved or incompetent."
Malala Yousafzai -- I Am Malala

incompetent = not sufficiently capable

(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in incompetent means not and reverses the meaning of competent. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)

To make him prove, not that he was competent, but that he was far better than everyone else.
Orson Scott Card -- Ender's Game

competent = sufficiently capable

She tries to shoot me and it's immediately evident that she's incompetent with a bow.
Suzanne Collins -- The Hunger Games

incompetent = not sufficiently capable

(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in incompetent means not and reverses the meaning of competent. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)

Many had washed out of regular soldierly life, too incompetent to perform basic duties.
Laura Hillenbrand -- Unbroken

incompetent = not sufficiently capable

(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in incompetent means not and reverses the meaning of competent. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)

It was mighty dark out there, black as ink. 'd take somebody mighty used to the dark to make a competent witness...
Harper Lee -- To Kill a Mockingbird

competent = sufficiently capable

He maneuvered the prow with competent hands.
Madeline Miller -- Circe

competent = capable

"Humans reek," Bob replies. "They just don't notice because they have incompetent noses."
Katherine Applegate -- The One and Only Ivan

incompetent = not sufficiently capable

(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in incompetent means not and reverses the meaning of competent. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)

We were all at our funniest about Leper, and we all secretly hoped that Leper, that incompetent, was as heroic as we said.
John Knowles -- A Separate Peace

incompetent = not sufficiently capable

(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in incompetent means not and reverses the meaning of competent. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)

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