agent
[noun]
Synonyms:
- representative, envoy, go-between, negotiator, rep (informal), surrogate
- worker, author, doer, mover, operator, performer
- force, agency, cause, instrument, means, power, vehicle

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Antonyms: principal
Related Words: doer, executive, executor, performer, actor, worker, activator, energizer, go-between, middleman, instrument, minister, tool, commissioner, proctor, procurator, representative, steward, buyer, commissionaire

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

a‧gent S3 W2 /ˈeɪdʒənt/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: from the present participle of Latin agere 'to drive, lead, act, move, do']

1. a person or company that represents another person or company, especially in business:
Our agent in Rio deals with all our Brazilian business.
agent for
We’re acting as agents for Mr Watson. ⇒ estate agent, land agent, real estate agent, travel agent

2. someone who finds work for actors, musicians etc, or who finds someone to publish a writer’s work:
My agent has a new script for me to look at.
a literary agent

3. someone who works for a government or police department, especially in order to get secret information about another country or organization:
an intelligence agent
an FBI agent
an undercover (=secret) agent ⇒ secret agent, double agent

4. technical a chemical or substance that is used for a particular purpose or that has a particular effect:
Soap is a cleansing agent.

5. someone or something that affects or changes a situation
agent for/of change
Technological advances are the chief agents of change. ⇒ free agent

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

agent
noun
I. works in an agency
ADJ. advertising, election, estate, insurance, land, letting, literary, managing, parliamentary, patent, press, publicity, travel | local The company has developed sales through local agents in key markets.
VERB + AGENT employ, have, use I have an agent who deals with all my contracts.
appoint, engage, get (sb), hire If you want to get published, get yourself an agent!
act as | sack
PREP. through an ~ She got the work through an agent.
~ for an agent for a shipping company
 ⇒ Note at JOB

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

agent
II. spy
ADJ. intelligence | enemy, foreign | federal, government | secret, undercover | double As a double agent, he worked for the Americans and the Russians.
VERB + AGENT work as

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

agent
III. person/thing that has an effect
ADJ. chief, main, primary, prime, principal | effective | human | moral, rational | free I told him I couldn't stop him, he was a free agent.
PREP. ~ for The charity is an agent for social change.
PHRASES an agent for/of change

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

agent
noun
BAD: I applied for a job at a travel agent.
GOOD: I applied for a job at a travel agent's.

Usage Note:
To refer to a shop or company, use the's form: a greengrocer's, a chemist's, a tailor's, a butcher's.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

agent
ˈeɪdʒənt
See: free agent

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲