Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense apprentices, present participle apprenticing, past tense, past participle apprenticed
1. countable noun [oft NOUN noun]
An apprentice is a young person who works for someone in order to learn their skill.
I started off as an apprentice and worked my way up.
He left school at 15 and trained as an apprentice carpenter.
Synonyms: trainee, student, pupil, novice More Synonyms of apprentice
2. verb [usually passive]
If a young person is apprenticedto someone, they go to work for them in order to learn their skill.
I was apprenticed to a builder when I was fourteen. [beVERB-ed + to]
apprentice in British English
(əˈprɛntɪs)
noun
1.
someone who works for a skilled or qualified person in order to learn a trade or profession, esp for a recognized period
2.
any beginner or novice
verb
3. (transitive)
to take, place, or bind as an apprentice
Derived forms
apprenticeship (apˈprenticeˌship)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French aprentis, from Old French aprendre to learn, from Latin apprehendere to apprehend
apprentice in American English
(əˈprɛntɪs)
noun
1.
a person under legal agreement to work a specified length of time for a master craftsman in a craft or trade in return for instruction and, formerly, support
2.
a person who is acquiring a trade, craft, or skill under specified conditions, usually as a member of a labor union
3.
any learner or beginner; novice
verb transitiveWord forms: apˈprenticed or apˈprenticing
4.
to place or accept as an apprentice
verb intransitive
5.
to work or train as an apprentice
Derived forms
apprenticeship (apˈprenticeˌship)
noun
Word origin
ME aprentis < OFr aprentiz < aprendre, learn < L apprehendere, apprehend
Examples of 'apprentice' in a sentence
apprentice
Here is a picture of a master and apprentice at work.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The government backed down over plans to cut funding for training young apprentices.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And crucially, you will be able to see if any apprentices are working unsupervised.
The Sun (2016)
The remaining one or two days are spent at a vocational school, where apprentices receive theoretical lessons.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
THE signs are promising for the old master and his young apprentice.
The Sun (2016)
In many ways its students will be similar to apprentices, working for an employer while training and studying towards a recognised qualification.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Imagine you're an apprentice taken on by a factory for a year's trial.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
All bodies spending public cash must now hire apprentices.
The Sun (2015)
Now it hires school leavers and apprentices and has found that staff retention has improved.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He found work as an apprentice joiner.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What was important to me as a young apprentice is obviously not as relevant now.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The group has also increased the number of apprentices it has taken on at the site.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The problem lies in finding apprentices to learn the trade.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He spoke while welcoming the first apprentices to a new brickwork academy.
The Sun (2015)
From this he moved to similar work for apprentices in their places of employment.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Our youngest apprentice joined us three years ago.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The centre takes on five apprentices each year.
The Sun (2009)
Is it a skill that one learns as an apprentice?
Peter F. Drucker THE ESSENTIAL DRUCKER (2001)
Half are young apprentices from the local further education college.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She plans to hire more staff this year and is keen to take on apprentices.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There is also the problem of an ageing workforce and a lack of budget to train new apprentices.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The gongs are in recognition of all the hard work apprentices and their companies put into excelling in their field.
The Sun (2011)
The mutually owned company said that apprentices would also learn to keep clerical records and how to conduct themselves at funerals.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The company's apprentice scheme goes from strength to strength.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
British policy makers lauded its schools and well-trained apprentices.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
How many apprentices go on to full-time jobs?
The Sun (2012)
I went into the apprentice school in Ireland last year.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
None of these people would win The Apprentice.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
How disappointed were you not to win The Apprentice?
The Sun (2012)
Leaving school unable to read or write due to an acute form of dyslexia, he became a carpenter 's apprentice.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
And as a carpenter 's apprentice, he must have pounded his fingers time and again and cut his finger with a saw.
Christianity Today (2000)
I'm 20 and an apprentice site carpenter.
The Sun (2015)
In other languages
apprentice
British English: apprentice /əˈprɛntɪs/ NOUN
An apprentice is a person who works with someone in order to learn their skill.
Their son is an apprentice woodworker.
American English: apprentice
Arabic: مُتَمَهِّن
Brazilian Portuguese: aprendiz
Chinese: 学徒
Croatian: šegrt
Czech: učeň
Danish: lærling
Dutch: leerling
European Spanish: aprendiz
Finnish: harjoittelija
French: apprenti
German: Lehrling
Greek: μαθητευόμενος
Italian: apprendista
Japanese: 見習い
Korean: 견습생
Norwegian: lærling
Polish: praktykant
European Portuguese: aprendiz
Romanian: ucenic
Russian: ученик
Latin American Spanish: aprendiz
Swedish: lärling
Thai: ผู้ฝึกงาน
Turkish: çırak
Ukrainian: учень
Vietnamese: người học việc
Chinese translation of 'apprentice'
apprentice
(əˈprɛntɪs)
n(c)
学(學)徒 (xuétú) (个(個), gè)
vt
to be apprenticed to sb给(給)某人当(當)学(學)徒 (gěi mǒurén dāng xuétú)
an apprentice plumber/carpenter etc管子工/木匠｛等｝学(學)徒 (guǎnzigōng/mùjiàng děng xuétú)
(noun)
Definition
someone who works for a skilled person for a fixed period in order to learn his or her trade
I started off as an apprentice and worked my way up.
Synonyms
trainee
student
a passionate student of history
pupil
Goldschmidt became a pupil of the composer Franz Schreker.
novice
I'm a novice at these things. You're the professional.
beginner
I am a complete beginner to bird-keeping.
learner
a new aid for younger children or slow learners
neophyte (formal)
The book is a wonderfully stimulating read for both neophytes and wine buffs.
tyro
a tyro journalist
probationer
I was a young policeman - a probationer with a training officer.
Opposites
expert
,
master
,
pro
,
ace (informal)
, adept,
boffin (British, informal)
,
past master
,
dab hand (British, informal)
,
fundi (South Africa)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of beginner
I am a complete beginner to bird-keeping.
Synonyms
novice,
student,
pupil,
convert,
recruit,
amateur,
initiate,
newcomer,
starter,
trainee,
apprentice,
cub,
fledgling,
learner,
freshman,
neophyte (formal),
tyro,
probationer,
greenhorn (informal),
novitiate,
newbie (slang),
tenderfoot,
proselyte
in the sense of learner
a new aid for younger children or slow learners
Synonyms
student,
pupil,
scholar,
novice,
beginner,
trainee,
apprentice,
disciple,
neophyte (formal),
tyro
in the sense of neophyte
Definition
a beginner
The book is a wonderfully stimulating read for both neophytes and wine buffs.