(1)有能力的，胜任的(able or skilful to do what is required or needed;capable)[A(as/in/at)，A+to-inf]：be～as a teacher胜任教师工作;be～in one's work/in what one does胜任工作/所做的事情;be～in all branches of mathematics在数学的各个分支都有能力;be～at one's work/joinery胜任工作/会做细木工活儿;be～to look after children/to drive a big car能照看孩子/驾驶大型汽车;a(highly/most)～driver/electrician/clerk(非常)能干的司机/电器技师/职员;a (highly/most)～pianist (很)有水平的钢琴家;〖同〗 skilled，skilful，expert，qualified;〖反〗 incompetent，incapable，unskilled，unskilful，inexpert，unqualified;

(2)令人满意的，相当好的(quite good but not excellent;satisfactory)：do a～(piece of)work/job干(一件)令人满意的工作/活儿;make a～use of the language很好地使用那种语言;〖同〗satisfactory;〖反〗 incompetent;

(3)有权力(资格)的(having official or legal power to do sth;fully qualified)[A+to-inf]：a～registered physician有开业资格的内科医生;The court is not～to deal with the case/to try the case/with regard to the case.这法院无权处理/审理/处理这个案子。〖同〗permissible，allowable;〖反〗 incompetent;

→′competently adv 能干地，胜任地;in-′competent adj 不能干的，不胜任的;无资格的;′competence n 能力;权限;资格;

【辨异】competent与able和capable的区别见 ABLE。