Nimble means able to move quickly, lightly, and easily. A nimble gymnast can flip and twist through the air with precise control. A nimble squirrel darts up a tree trunk and leaps between branches without hesitation. When you're nimble, your body responds instantly to what you want it to do.

The word often describes physical quickness, but it also describes mental agility. A nimble mind can switch between different problems or ideas with ease. In a classroom debate, a nimble thinker quickly adjusts their argument when someone raises a good point. A nimble chess player sees new strategies as the game unfolds.

Nimbleness requires both speed and grace. A bulldozer is powerful but not nimble. A hummingbird, however, is extremely nimble. It can hover, fly backwards, and change direction in an instant. That combination of quickness and control is what makes something truly nimble.

Companies sometimes describe themselves as nimble when they can adapt quickly to change. Video game players need nimble fingers to react fast. The word suggests moving quickly with skill and purpose.