Definition
Definition of wits - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun, plural
1.
intelligencemental faculties for quick thinking and decision making
- She used her wits to solve the puzzle.
2.
sanitystate of being sane and rational
- He was scared out of his wits by the noise.
Expressions with wits
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
compete using intelligence or clever thinking
The two detectives will match wits to solve the case.
make mental abilities sharper or more acute
She plays chess to sharpen her wits.
the limit of one's mental capacity or patience
After hours of trying, she was at her wits' end.
contest where intelligence is used over force
The debate turned into a battle of wits.
make someone extremely scared or shocked
The loud noise frightened the wits out of me!
prepare yourself mentally for a challenge
Gather your wits before you step onto the witness stand.
stay alert and ready to respond quickly
During the debate, she had her wits about herself.
stay mentally alert and aware of surroundings and situation
You must keep your wits about you in dangerous places.
survive using cleverness and resourcefulness
He had to live by wits after losing his job.
become irrational or lose sense of reason
After the accident, he seemed to lose his wits.
frighten someone very much
The loud noise scared the wits out of me.
employ intelligence to solve a problem
She had to use her wits to escape the maze.
rely on cleverness to handle a situation
He used his wits to negotiate a better deal.
unable to think of a solution
She was at her wits' end trying to fix the computer.
regain mental composure after confusion or shock
After the surprise, she needed a moment to collect her wits.
verbal battle of intelligence
Their conversation turned into a duel of wits.
stay alert and attentive in challenging situations
In the busy market, she kept her wits about herself.
stay alert and think quickly in difficult situations
In the busy market, he had to keep his wits about him.
compete in clever thinking or problem-solving with someone
She loves to match her wits with her brother.
make your mind more alert and quick
He played chess to sharpen his wits before the exam.
survive using intelligence and resourcefulness
He had to live by his wits after losing his job.
employ intelligence to solve a problem
She had to use her wits to escape the maze.
showing quick reasoning and practical ingenuity
She escaped the surprise inspection by using her wits.
cause someone to feel extremely frightened
The loud noise scared me out of my wits.
Origin of wits
Old English, witt (knowledge) + s (plural)
Terms with wits included in their meaning
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Examples of wits in a sentence
Using her wits, she negotiated a better deal. She managed to keep her wits during the crisis. Losing his wits, he wandered aimlessly.
View all translations of wits
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:esprit, la raison, ...
- German:Verstand, ...
- Italian:intelligenza, ragione, ...
- Spanish:ingenio, cordura, ...
- Portuguese:inteligência, juízo, ...
- Chinese:机智, 理智, ...
- Japanese:機知, 正気, ...
- Arabic:ذَكاء, عَقْل, ...
- Hebrew:שֵׂכֶל, שְׁפִיוּת, ...
- Russian:умственные способности, рассудок, ...
- Ukrainian:розумові здібності, розум, ...
- Hindi:सूझबूझ, होश-हवास, ...
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
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
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)
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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