Definition of wit - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
intellectual abilitymental ability to think and reason
- Her wit helped her solve the puzzle quickly.
2.
intelligencepractical intelligence in making decisions
- She had the wit to invest wisely.
3.
comedyhumor that is clever and quick
- The comedian's wit had the audience laughing all night.
4.
witty personperson known for being amusingly clever
- Oscar Wilde was a famous wit of his time.
5.
mindDated sanity or mental stabilityDated
- He was scared out of his wits by the noise.
Verb
1.
clevernesstr./intr. Dated show quick and inventive verbal humortr./intr. Dated
- She witted her way through the conversation.
2.
awarenessintr. Rare know or become aware of somethingintr. Rare
- He wits the truth of the situation.
Expressions with wit
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possess quick and clever verbal humor
She always has a ready wit during conversations.
make someone extremely scared or shocked
The loud noise frightened me out of my wit!
sharp and quick humor or intelligence
Her rapier wit left everyone in stitches.
sudden clever or funny remark that surprises people
Her flash of wit made everyone laugh.
humor delivered in a serious, understated manner
She entertained the crowd with her dry wit.
ability to think and respond with clever ideas quickly
Her quickness of wit impressed everyone at the party.
sharp humor that criticizes or mocks harshly
Her biting wit made everyone laugh and cringe.
ability to think of clever or funny remarks very quickly
Her quick wit kept the whole group laughing all evening.
sharp humor that can hurt or offend others
Her stinging wit made everyone laugh and blush.
natural ability to make good decisions in daily life
She solved the problem with her mother wit.
clever or humorous remarks in conversation
Her shafts of wit kept everyone entertained at the party.
natural intelligence or cleverness someone is born with
She solved the puzzle with her native wit.
think of a clever reply after the moment has passed
He had staircase wit and thought of the joke too late.
outside human understanding or capability
The mystery of the universe is beyond the wit of man.
conciseness of expression is an essential characteristic of astute, perceptive, or witty remarks
Brevity is the soul of wit, so keep your speech short and sharp..
as follows or specifically
The ingredients are, to wit, flour, sugar, and eggs.
sudden clever remarks or jokes
Her sallies of wit kept everyone entertained at the party.
Origin of wit
Old English, witan (to know)
Terms with wit included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
wit
in a witty or tricky manner
animals
natural instincts or wit of an animal
wit
witty comment intended to evoke laughter
literature
criticism using sharp wit
quick wit
conversation with series of witty retorts
wit
marked by clever or sarcastic comments
communication
liveliness and wit in conversation or writing
wit
person noted for telling stories with wit
intelligence
employing keen wit or intelligence
wit
woman known for witty or sharp retorts
wit
clever and sharp humor or intelligence
intelligence
sudden display of brilliance or wit
wit
characterized by subtle or unexpected humor
communication
wit of thinking of a clever comeback too late
wit
quality of joking or playful humor not meant to be serious
lightheartedness
playful wit shown in speech or manner
strategy
defeat someone using cleverness and wit
expression wit
sharp and direct quality in words or wit
wit
characterized by quick and clever replies
intellectual ability
having a specified form of wit or intelligence
Examples of wit in a sentence
The author's wit made the book a delightful read. His wit in negotiations saved the company. The novel is full of wit and humor. Her wit shone through her clever retorts. He was known for his sharp wit at parties. The columnist was a wit at every dinner party.
Her quick replies made her the office wit. After the ordeal, she feared she might lose her wits. Keep your wits about you during the emergency. He witted his way out of the tricky situation. They witted their responses during the debate. She wits the danger lurking in the shadows. They witted the importance of the hidden message.
View all translations of wit
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:esprit, plaisanter, ...
- German:Scharfsinn, witzeln, ...
- Italian:ingegno, usare l'arguzia, ...
- Spanish:ingenio, ingeniarse, ...
- Portuguese:inteligência, demonstrar sagacidade, ...
- Chinese:机智, 机智地应答, ...
- Japanese:機知, 機知で切り抜ける, ...
- Arabic:ذَكَاء, أَبدَعَ في البَديهة, ...
- Hebrew:שֵׂכֶל, לְהַשְׁחִיל הֲלָצוֹת, ...
- Russian:ум, остроумничать, ...
- Ukrainian:кмітливість, дотепно вести, ...
- Hindi:विवेक, चतुराई दिखाना, ...
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