Advertisement
Advertisement
wit
1[ wit ]
noun
- the keen perception and cleverly apt expression of those connections between ideas that awaken amusement and pleasure.
Synonyms: drollery
- speech or writing showing such perception and expression.
Synonyms: bon mot, persiflage, badinage, repartee, raillery, quip, witticism, banter
- a person having or noted for such perception and expression.
- understanding, intelligence, or sagacity.
- Usually wits.
- powers of intelligent observation, keen perception, ingenious contrivance, or the like; mental acuity, composure, and resourcefulness:
using one's wits to get ahead.
- mental faculties; senses:
to lose one's wits;
frightened out of one's wits.
wit
2[ wit ]
verb (used with or without object)
- Archaic. to know.
wit
1/ wɪt /
noun
- the talent or quality of using unexpected associations between contrasting or disparate words or ideas to make a clever humorous effect
- speech or writing showing this quality
- a person possessing, showing, or noted for such an ability, esp in repartee
- practical intelligence (esp in the phrase have the wit to )
- dialect.information or knowledge (esp in the phrase get wit of )
- archaic.mental capacity or a person possessing it
- obsolete.the mind or memory
wit
2/ wɪt /
verb
- archaic.to be or become aware of (something)
adverb
- to witthat is to say; namely (used to introduce statements, as in legal documents)
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of wit1
Origin of wit2
Discover More
Idioms and Phrases
- keep / have one's wits about one, to remain alert and observant; be prepared for or equal to anything:
to keep your wits about you in a crisis.
- live by one's wits, to provide for oneself by employing ingenuity or cunning; live precariously:
We traveled around the world, living by our wits.
- to wit, that is to say; namely:
It was the time of the vernal equinox, to wit, the beginning of spring.
- at one's wit's end. at the end of one's ideas or mental resources; perplexed:
My two-year-old won't eat anything but pizza, and I'm at my wit's end.
More idioms and phrases containing wit
see at one's wit's end ; have one's wits about one ; live by one's wits ; scare out of one's wits ; to wit .Discover More
Synonym Study
Discover More
Example Sentences
His mature wit and poetic style drew in those around him and we connected instantly.
With twice as many British soldiers, Washington was in for a fiercely competitive battle of wit and strength.
He was renowned for his wit, disarming his critics with unfailing humor.
Renowned livestock specialist and autism advocate Temple Grandin brought her unique intellect and wit to Reddit.
Amid our grief we now see that New York had been distracted by flash and wit and cash for too long.
We had six field-pieces, but we only took four, harnessed wit twice the usual number of horses.
To place wit above sense is to place superfluity above utility.
Vincent Alsop died; a presbyterian clergyman, who attacked Dr. Sherlock with great wit and some seriousness.
He was judge of the admiralty court of Pennsylvania; his writings abound with wit, humor and satire.
John Hales died; an English author, so much admired for his wit and learning, that he is called the ever memorable.
Advertisement
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse