NIMBLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does nimble mean? 

• NIMBLE (adjective)
  The adjective NIMBLE has 2 senses:

1. moving quickly and lightly

2. mentally quick

  Familiarity information: NIMBLE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NIMBLE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Moving quickly and lightly

Synonyms:

agile; nimble; quick; spry

Context example:

the old dog was so spry it was halfway up the stairs before we could stop it

Similar:

active (characterized by energetic activity)

Derivation:

nimbleness (the gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Mentally quick

Synonyms:

agile; nimble

Context example:

nimble wits

Similar:

intelligent (having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree)

Derivation:

nimbleness (intelligence as revealed by quickness and alertness of mind)

 Context examples 

I don't care how nimble her fingers are, how perfect her technique, how wonderful her expression—the fact is, she knows nothing about music.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Mrs. Reed looked up from her work; her eye settled on mine, her fingers at the same time suspended their nimble movements.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

They are prodigiously nimble from their infancy.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

She looked very pretty, and was very merry; but the little feet that used to be so nimble when they danced round Jip, were dull and motionless.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The job of Uranus is to keep us mentally nimble and ready to turn on a dime, so It’s nearly impossible to guess what might come.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

She was a nimble little needlewoman, and they were finished before anyone got tired of them.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Now he took to the road boldly, and as he was light and nimble, he felt no fatigue.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

“Blood for Wilson!” yelled the crowd, and as the smith faced round to follow the movements of his nimble adversary, I saw with a thrill that his chin was crimson and dripping.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Jane (he turned to me for the first time since his re-entrance), take this key: go down into my bedroom, and walk straight forward into my dressing-room: open the top drawer of the wardrobe and take out a clean shirt and neck-handkerchief: bring them here; and be nimble.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

“It is a lucky thing,” said he, “that they did not tear up the tree on which I was sitting, or I should have had to sprint on to another like a squirrel; but we tailors are nimble.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)