ap·pren·tice
ə-ˈpren-təs 
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
apprenticed; apprenticing
: to set at work as an apprentice
especially
: to bind to an apprenticeship by contract or indenture
: to serve as an apprentice
Synonyms
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
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Although the Dali can cruise around 22 mph, the captain, a harbor pilot and an apprentice pilot kept the speed about 9 mph as the tugs cast off their lines and returned to the port for their next assignment.
—USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Its roots trace back to ancient times when seasoned craftsmen passed down their skills and knowledge to apprentices.
—Jia Rizvi, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Of Whitcomb’s 28 tailors in India, around half are now experienced master tailors who each supervise one or two apprentices, which encourages staff to pass on knowledge.
—Aleks Cvetkovic, Robb Report, 2 Mar. 2024
But the same awards ceremony also celebrates apprentice butchers, and—in contrast—two-thirds of those winning apprentices were women.
—Olivia Potts, Longreads, 15 Feb. 2024
The grants go toward both funding production as well as paying agency apprentices from underserved backgrounds.
—Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2024
For decades, a group of former apprentices of Jon Bannenberg, the godfather of yacht design, dominated the field with their trademark lavish style.
—Lucy Alexander, Robb Report, 23 Mar. 2024
Ariana DeBose plays 17-year-old Asha, who applies to become the apprentice of King Magnifico, voiced by Chris Pine.
—Valerie Wu, Variety, 18 Mar. 2024
Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
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
Noun
Going to school and working full time as an electrician’s apprentice — but his grandpa died on Easter.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Although the Dali can cruise around 22 mph, the captain, a harbor pilot and an apprentice pilot kept the speed about 9 mph as the tugs cast off their lines and returned to the port for their next assignment.
—USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Its roots trace back to ancient times when seasoned craftsmen passed down their skills and knowledge to apprentices.
—Jia Rizvi, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Of Whitcomb’s 28 tailors in India, around half are now experienced master tailors who each supervise one or two apprentices, which encourages staff to pass on knowledge.
—Aleks Cvetkovic, Robb Report, 2 Mar. 2024
But the same awards ceremony also celebrates apprentice butchers, and—in contrast—two-thirds of those winning apprentices were women.
—Olivia Potts, Longreads, 15 Feb. 2024
The grants go toward both funding production as well as paying agency apprentices from underserved backgrounds.
—Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2024
For decades, a group of former apprentices of Jon Bannenberg, the godfather of yacht design, dominated the field with their trademark lavish style.
—Lucy Alexander, Robb Report, 23 Mar. 2024
Ariana DeBose plays 17-year-old Asha, who applies to become the apprentice of King Magnifico, voiced by Chris Pine.
—Valerie Wu, Variety, 18 Mar. 2024
Verb
His parents apprenticed him to a merchant, but Cook was bored by dry goods.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
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
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.
Dictionary Entries Near apprentice
Cite this Entry
“Apprentice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apprentice. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
apprentice
1 of 2 noun
ap·pren·tice
ə-ˈprent-əs
: 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
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