What does nimble mean?
Definitions for nimble
ˈnɪm bəlnim·ble
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word nimble.
Princeton's WordNet
agile, nimble, quick, spryadjective
moving quickly and lightly
"sleek and agile as a gymnast"; "as nimble as a deer"; "nimble fingers"; "quick of foot"; "the old dog was so spry it was halfway up the stairs before we could stop it"
agile, nimbleadjective
mentally quick
"an agile mind"; "nimble wits"
Wiktionary
nimbleadjective
Quick and light in movement or action.
He was too nimble for the assailant and easily escaped his grasp.
nimbleadjective
Quick-witted and alert.
She has a nimble mind and can improvise in any situation.
Etymology: From nymel, nemel, merger of næmel and numol, both from niman + -el, -ol. Compare German nehmen Gothic 033D0339033C0330033D, Old Norse nema. More at nim.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Nimbleadjective
Quick; active; ready; speedy; lively; expeditious.
Etymology: from nim, or numan , Saxon, tractable.
They being nimbler-jointed than the rest,
And more industrious, gathered more store. Edmund Spenser.You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames
Into her scornful eyes. William Shakespeare, K. Lear.You have dancing shoes
With nimble soles. William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet.His off’ring soon propitious fire from heaven,
Consum’d with nimble glance and grateful steam;
The others not, for his was not sincere. John Milton, P. Lost.Thro’ the mid seas the nimble pinnace sails,
Aloof from Crete before the northern gales. Alexander Pope.
ChatGPT
nimble
Nimble refers to the ability to move quickly, lightly, and easily or having the capacity to think, understand, and react quickly and cleverly. This term may apply to both physical agility and to the mental ability to grasp complex concepts swiftly.
Webster Dictionary
Nimble
light and quick in motion; moving with ease and celerity; lively; swift
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Nimble
nim′bl, adj. light and quick in motion: active: swift.—adjs. Nim′ble-fing′ered, skilful with the fingers, thievish; Nim′ble-foot′ed, swift of foot.—ns. Nim′bleness, Nim′bless (Spens.), quickness of motion either in body or mind.—adj. Nim′ble-wit′ted, quick-witted.—adv. Nim′bly. [M. E. nimel—A.S. niman, to catch; cf. Ger. nehmen.]
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of nimble in Chaldean Numerology is: 2
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of nimble in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1
Examples of nimble in a Sentence
Many of the largest institutions are handcuffed, creating opportunities for the smaller, more nimble companies, (It's) an area where we see continued opportunity on a forward basis.
The (Chinese) response is so far divorced from reality that it is fictional. An unarmed, airliner-sized aircraft does not aggressively turn into a nimble armed fighter.
This problem is not going to go away. It is going to accelerate. And that means that we have to be as nimble, as aggressive and as well-resourced as those who are trying to break into these systems.
Vijay is that rare combination of a true area expert and a genuinely nimble mind, as we integrate Asia's operations to provide a multiformat news experience for our customers, I can't imagine a better leader to help a talented staff tell stories that make a difference and figure out how to deliver our journalism in exciting and unexpected new ways.
Recessions can be cleansing events for the economy as a whole, forcing inefficient behemoths out of business and making room for more nimble competitors who can better satisfy customer needs, this time around, the economy has changed enough following the pandemic that new business opportunities are bound to have opened up.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for nimble
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- رشيقArabic
- àgilCatalan, Valencian
- wendig, behänd, gelenkig, flink, schnellGerman
- σβέλτος, ευκίνητος, εύστροφοςGreek
- hábil, ágilSpanish
- چابکPersian
- ketterä, valpas, nopeaälyinen, vikkeläFinnish
- vif, fulgurant, agile, leste, preste, viveFrench
- éascaIrish
- hajlékony, gyors, okos, fürge, ötletesHungarian
- svelto, leggero, sveglio, pronto, agile, intelligente, versatileItalian
- זָרִיזHebrew
- inops agili peragitLatin
- kakama, kamakama, tūkawikawiMāori
- spits, gevat, lichtvoetig, wendbaar, behendig, alertDutch
- rask, kjappNorwegian
- zwinnyPolish
- ágil, esperto, ligeiroPortuguese
- agerRomanian
- прово́рный, шу́стрый, нахо́дчивый, бы́стрый, сообрази́тельный, вёрткий, ло́вкийRussian
- flink, lätt, vaken, snabbtänkt, ledig, snabb, kvick, pigg, smidig, livlig, vigSwedish
- açıkgöz, atik, çevik, çabuklukTurkish
- спритнийUkrainian
- فرتیلاUrdu
- 敏捷Chinese
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"nimble." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 21 Jan. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/nimble>.
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