versatile
🇬🇧 /ˈvɜːsəˌtaɪl/
🇺🇸 /ˈvɜrsətəl/
📖 Definitions
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adjective
Capable of doing many things competently; having a wide variety of skills or abilities.; Having many different uses or functions; adaptable to many different purposes.; Changeable or inconstant; fickle.; In botany, referring to an anther that is attached at its middle point and can move freely on the filament.; In zoology, capable of moving freely in all directions; not fixed in position.
🔗 Details
Word forms
Comparative: more versatile
Superlative: most versatile
Collocations
highly versatileversatile playerversatile toolversatile performerversatile materialextremely versatile
Derivatives
versatilityversatilelyversatilist
Synonyms
adaptableflexiblemultifacetedall-aroundresourcefulmany-sided
Antonyms
limitedspecializednarrowone-dimensional
Commonly confused
diverse
EN: 'Diverse' describes a group containing many different types; 'versatile' describes a single entity capable of doing many different things.
variable
EN: 'Variable' means changing or inconsistent; 'versatile' means able to adapt to many functions or activities.
Spelling tips
EN: Remember the middle syllable: 'ver-SA-tile' — it ends in '-ile', not '-al' or '-ile' with a silent 'e' dropped.
💬 Examples
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She is a versatile actress who can play both comedic and dramatic roles.
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A Swiss Army knife is one of the most versatile tools you can carry.
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The versatile winds shifted direction several times during the afternoon.
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The grass species has versatile anthers that swing freely in the breeze to aid pollination.
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The insect's versatile antennae can rotate to detect stimuli from any direction.