How to Use proficient in a Sentence

proficient

adjective
  • She is proficient in two foreign languages.
  • He has become very proficient at computer programming.
  • Deer are proficient jumpers so a 4-foot-tall chain-link fence won’t do the trick.
    — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2024
  • The most proficient hitters are hardly at all cut from the same cloth.
    — Zach Schonbrun, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2018
  • Less than a quarter of Texas eighth graders were deemed proficient in math.
    — Dallas News, 24 Oct. 2022
  • There were schools where none of the students tested were proficient in math.
    — Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2024
  • And in eighth grade, a mere 31 percent were deemed proficient.
    — Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Being proficient in the core academics is just one piece of a larger whole.
    — Pioneer Press Elections Team, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2024
  • This is one way the test assesses whether a child is proficient in reading.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
  • Only 22% of eighth graders are proficient in civics.
    — Robert Casper, Boston Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Our confidence and hope is in the proficient work the of police.
    — Steve Helling, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2022
  • Westbrook wants to be, and is proficient at, impacting a game in many ways.
    — Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2021
  • Just talks about how proficient everybody else is at doing their job.
    — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2026
  • Barrett and the offense must get more proficient throwing the ball deep.
    — Tim Bielik, cleveland.com, 18 Sep. 2017
  • Kids who aren’t proficient by third grade are four times more likely to drop out later, the report said.
    — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026
  • Just over a third of students registered a proficient score.
    — Editorial, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Fox is not a proficient 3-point shooter, so asking him to play off the ball isn't ideal.
    — Jason Jones, sacbee, 15 June 2018
  • Just 28% of eighth graders are proficient in math and 30% in reading.
    — Michael R. Bloomberg, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The drops in test scores were roughly four times greater among the students who were the least proficient in both math and reading.
    — Ben Chapman, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022
  • The study is still on the hunt for more participants who are proficient in Na’vi.
    — Sabrina Torres, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2022
  • Along with the mere pass rush, the Dolphins were proficient in jarring the ball loose last season.
    — David Furones, sun-sentinel.com, 24 July 2021
  • On the other side, Kuni — the most proficient player — could choose to beat on her drum.
    — Quanta Magazine, 22 Mar. 2016
  • People in the role only need to have a high school degree and be proficient in English.
    — Ambar Castillo, STAT, 24 Mar. 2023
  • Both are already reasonably proficient in this area.
    — PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025
  • They are based on how many students scored proficient or above proficient in math and reading or language arts on state tests.
    — Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 28 Nov. 2025
  • Only about one-third of high-school seniors are proficient in reading and just one-fourth are proficient in math.
    — Courtney Corbello, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Fewer than 4 in 10 students are proficient in math.
    — Bruce Rauner, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Roberto Rodríguez, 48, was one of the most proficient dancers.
    — Natalia Favre, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Badie, however, is proficient, despite not being a big back.
    — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025
  • In the last school year, less than 6% of Detroit eighth graders who took a state standardized test scored as proficient in math.
    — Corey Williams, ajc, 22 Mar. 2022

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'proficient.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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