gifted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gifted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has exceptional talent or ability in a particular area, often in the context of education or personal skills. Example: "She is a gifted musician, able to play multiple instruments with ease."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Sport

Education

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A precociously gifted student, Schiele soon attracted the attention of Gustav Klimt, the pre-eminent artist of the Secession movement – an artistic revolution that covered many art forms, all driven by the basic aim of rejecting Beaux-Arts classicism and stuffy Salon mediocrity.

The Guardian - Arts

She got through both, and made it all the way to the quarter-finals in Rome, helped by a walkover gifted to her by Serena Williams in the third round.

The Guardian - Sport

Cesare Prandelli has stated the belief that his team will need athletes, more than technically gifted ball-players, to succeed in hot and humid conditions in Brazil.

The Guardian - Sport

Kenny was a hugely gifted comic actor, with a curious mixture of vulnerability and self-confidence.

The Guardian

He is a bright, intelligent, gifted player, and it is a pleasure to play with him.

The Guardian - Sport

Hostile foreign agencies would be using all manner of low tricks and high technology to get hold of the classified files gifted to us by Snowden.

The Guardian

In a time of collapsing public confidence in the political classes across Europe, Orbán can claim to be unique – a gifted, popular strongman with the most formidable electoral mandate in the EU.

The Guardian

Nick Clegg, the former deputy prime minister, led the tributes to Kennedy as one of the most gifted politicians of his generation who died weeks after losing his Highlands seat in the Scottish National party landslide in the general election.

The Guardian

Mine stretches from "highly gifted" in some people's eyes, to "nutter" in others.

The Guardian - Books

It is because he is such a naturally gifted player that Henman is able to play so aggressively - he worries, though, that the range of strokes he has at his disposal is as big a problem as it is a benefit.

The Guardian - Sport

Two double faults gifted Safarova another break for 6-5 before a snatched volley into the net helped the Czech hold to love and clinch the first set.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In educational contexts, reserve this term for students who demonstrate potential well beyond their peers in intellectual or creative domains.

Common error

Avoid the phrase "gifted with a talent" as it is often redundant; to be "gifted" already implies the possession of a talent. Additionally, do not use it to describe mere proficiency that has been hard-won through effort alone, as that is better described as "highly trained" or "skilled".

Linguistic Context

The word "gifted" primarily functions as an adjective that describes a person possessing an innate, high-level aptitude for a specific field or general intelligence. Ludwig AI analysis shows it can also function as a passive verb in sports and news contexts, signifying that something was given or awarded, often due to an opponent's error.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Sport

10%

Arts

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "gifted" is a highly versatile term that functions effectively as both an adjective and a verb. Ludwig AI results demonstrate its widespread use in describing exceptional individuals in sports, arts and politics. While its most frequent synonym is "<a href="/s/talented" target="_blank" rel="alternative">talented", "gifted" carries a stronger connotation of innate, almost spiritual endowment. Writers should be mindful of the context; in education, it carries specific weight regarding intellectual potential, whereas in sports journalism, it often describes an unforced error that benefited an opponent. Overall, it remains a robust and universally recognized term for excellence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

talented

The most common and direct synonym for general capability

exceptional

Suggests performance that is well above the average or norm

brilliant

Emphasizes extreme intelligence or outstanding performance

precocious

Specifically refers to talent that develops at an unusually early age

prodigious

Refers to talent that is impressive in extent or size

endowed

Imparts a sense of being naturally provided with a specific quality

accomplished

Implies a combination of natural talent and significant training

adept

Focuses more on acquired high-level proficiency and skill

skilled

A broader term that can include both innate and learned abilities

naturally able

A more descriptive way to highlight that the skill is innate

FAQs

What can I say instead of "gifted"?

You can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/talented" target="_blank" rel="alternative">talented", "<a href="/s/exceptional" target="_blank" rel="alternative">exceptional" or "<a href="/s/endowed" target="_blank" rel="alternative">endowed" depending on the context.

Is "gifted" a verb or an adjective?

It can be both. As an adjective, it means having special abilities. As a verb, it is the past tense of "gift", meaning to give something as a present, as seen in Ludwig examples where a player was "<a href="/s/gifted+a+goal" target="_blank" rel="alternative">gifted a goal".

What is the difference between "gifted" and "precocious"?

While both imply high ability, "<a href="/s/precocious" target="_blank" rel="alternative">precocious" specifically refers to talent or maturity shown at an unusually early age, whereas "gifted" can apply to someone of any age.

Which is correct: "gifted in" or "gifted at"?

Both are used, but "gifted in" is common for fields of study (e.g. "gifted in mathematics") while "gifted at" often precedes specific actions (e.g. "gifted at playing the piano").