apprentice

1 of 2

noun

ap·​pren·​tice ə-ˈpren-təs How to pronounce apprentice (audio)
often attributive
1
a
: one bound by indenture (see indenture entry 1 sense 1a(3)) to serve another for a prescribed period with a view to learning an art or trade
b
: one who is learning by practical experience under skilled workers a trade, art, or calling
a carpenter's apprentice
compare journeyman sense 1, master entry 1 sense 1c
2
: an inexperienced person : novice
an apprentice in cooking

apprentice

2 of 2

verb

apprenticed; apprenticing

transitive verb

: to set at work as an apprentice
especially : to bind to an apprenticeship by contract or indenture

intransitive verb

: to serve as an apprentice

Examples of apprentice in a Sentence

Noun decided to be an apprentice to an electrician after he graduated aware that she's only an apprentice in the medical field, she readily defers to her more experienced colleagues Verb He apprenticed with a master carpenter for two years.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The bar’s staff ranges from a daffy bartender (B.K. Cannon) to an apprentice bouncer (Lukas Gage). David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2024 He was promoted from apprentice seaman to seaman second class in October 1940, and died just over a year later, at 19. Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 7 Mar. 2024 Upon completion, apprentices are issued a Certificate of Completion by the state, which officially designates the apprentice as a skilled journey worker. Lou Ponsi, Orange County Register, 19 Feb. 2024 The local ironworkers shop is planning to build an additional training center to accommodate more apprentices, who undergo four years of classroom and on-the-job training in building steel structures, typically at Intel or TSMC. Jeanne Whalen, Washington Post, 12 Feb. 2024 The Holiday of my opening quote—apprentice Billie, hedonistic Billie, carefree Billie—tends to be overshadowed. Elizabeth Barber, Harper's Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 The Creative Impact Lab also provided training sessions for both the nonprofit agencies and their apprentices. Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2024 The company intends to train 80 technician apprentices over five years, with support from Phoenix and the Arizona State Apprenticeship Office. The Arizona Republic, 25 Jan. 2024 Hiroshige’s series of woodblock prints—produced in the years leading up to his death, in 1858, and thereafter completed by his apprentice, Hiroshige II—is inaccurately named: there are a hundred and eighteen views in all. The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024
Verb
Yet the 21-year-old, who was greatly assisted by the Wolverines’ defense and run game, could certainly benefit from apprenticing behind a pro like Cousins. 12. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024 America wins when academia and business find ethical and creative ways to collaborate via teaching, mentoring, apprenticing, and hiring. Vicki Phillips, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Toussaint, who was literate, socially adroit and a talented fiddler, was apprenticed as a coiffeur and was permitted to keep some of his earnings; Schuyler and her sister-in-law, Eliza Hamilton — the wife of Alexander Hamilton — were among his earliest clients. Elizabeth Stone, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 Harvey’s In a perfect world, every neighborhood would have a place like Harvey’s, whose comforts-heavy menu is anchored in the traditions of home — and in the professional kitchens where owner Thomas Harvey apprenticed with some of Washington’s finest chefs. Tim Carman, Washington Post, 12 Dec. 2023 Colman guest-starred in that episode as Chef Terry, an accomplished chef running one of the best restaurants in the world, and who briefly crossed paths with Richie when the latter apprenticed at her restaurant for a week. Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2024 Master weavers apprenticed for seven years to learn their trade. Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 13 Jan. 2024 Entertainment & Arts The 10 most memorable museum exhibitions of 2023 Dec. 5, 2023 Blake left school at the age of 10, having learned to read and write, and he was apprenticed at 14 to a commercial engraver. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2023 In 1821, a 20-year-old innkeeper’s son named Thierry Hermès, who grew up in the German textile town of Krefeld, moved to France’s Normandy region and apprenticed as a saddler. Lindsay Talbot, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English aprentis, from Anglo-French apprentiz, from aprendre to learn, from Latin apprendere, apprehendere — see apprehend

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of apprentice was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near apprentice

Cite this Entry

“Apprentice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apprentice. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

apprentice

1 of 2 noun
ap·​pren·​tice ə-ˈprent-əs How to pronounce apprentice (audio)
: a person who is learning a trade or art by experience under a skilled worker

apprentice

2 of 2 verb
apprenticed; apprenticing
: to set at work as an apprentice

More from Merriam-Webster on apprentice

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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