Definition of 'clever'
Word forms: comparative cleverer
, superlative cleverest
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
3.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
clever in British English
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
cleverish (ˈcleverish) adjective
cleverly (ˈcleverly)
adverb
cleverness (ˈcleverness)
noun
Word origin
C13 cliver (in the sense: quick to seize, adroit), of uncertain origin
Word Frequency
clever in American English
adjective
1.
skillful in doing something; adroit; dexterous
SIMILAR WORDS: inˈtelligent
SYNONYMY NOTE: clever, in this comparison, implies quick-wittedness or adroitness, as in contriving the
solution to a problem [a clever reply]; cunning suggests great skill or ingenuity, but often implies deception or craftiness [cunning as a fox]; ingenious stresses inventive skill, as in origination or fabrication [an ingenious explanation]; shrewd suggests cleverness accompanied by practicality [a shrewd understanding of the situation], sometimes verging on craftiness [a shrewd politician]Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
cleverly (ˈcleverly)
adverb
cleverness (ˈcleverness)
noun
Word Frequency
clever in American English
(ˈklevər)
adjectiveWord forms: -er, -est
SYNONYMS 1. ingenious, talented, quick-witted; smart, gifted; apt, expert. 4. skillful, agile, handy.ANTONYMS 1. stupid. 4. clumsy.1.
mentally bright; having sharp or quick intelligence; able
2.
superficially skillful, witty, or original in character or construction; facile
It was an amusing, clever play, but of no lasting value
3.
showing inventiveness or originality; ingenious
His clever device was the first to solve the problem
4.
adroit with the hands or body; dexterous or nimble
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
cleverish adjective
cleverishly
adverb
cleverly
adverb
cleverness
noun
Examples of 'clever' in a sentence
clever
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In other languages
clever
British English: clever
/ˈklɛvə/ ADJECTIVE
A clever person is intelligent and able to understand things easily or to plan things well.
My sister was always a lot cleverer than I was.
- American English: clever /ˈklɛvər/
- Arabic: شَاطِر
- Brazilian Portuguese: esperto
- Chinese: 聪明的
- Croatian: pametan
- Czech: chytrý
- Danish: klog
- Dutch: slim
- European Spanish: inteligente
- Finnish: älykäs
- French: intelligent
- German: schlau
- Greek: έξυπνος
- Italian: intelligente
- Japanese: 賢い
- Korean: 영리한
- Norwegian: smart
- Polish: zdolny
- European Portuguese: esperto
- Romanian: deștept
- Russian: умный
- Latin American Spanish: inteligente
- Swedish: begåvad
- Thai: เฉลียวฉลาด
- Turkish: zeki
- Ukrainian: розумний
- Vietnamese: thông minh
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Definition of clever from the Collins English Dictionary
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