English Meaning & Definitions
Quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent and showing mental agility.
- “She came up with a clever solution to the complex engineering problem.”
- “It was a clever marketing strategy that significantly increased their sales.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “clever”.
Originating from Middle English 'clever' (meaning 'quick to catch'), likely related to the Old English 'clifer' (claw). The sense evolved from 'ready to seize' to 'quick-witted' or 'skillful' by the 16th century, reflecting the idea of mentally grasping concepts as easily as one might physically grasp an object.
Think of a 'clever' person as someone who can 'claw' their way to the answer quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions About “clever”
1. What is the meaning of “clever” in English?
In English, clever (adjective) is defined as: “Quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent and showing mental agility.”.
2. How do you use “clever” in a sentence?
“She came up with a clever solution to the complex engineering problem.”
3. What are English synonyms of “clever”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “clever”?
Originating from Middle English 'clever' (meaning 'quick to catch'), likely related to the Old English 'clifer' (claw). The sense evolved from 'ready to seize' to 'quick-witted' or 'skillful' by the 16th century, reflecting the idea of mentally grasping concepts as easily as one might physically grasp an object.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.