Advertisement

View synonyms for sharp

sharp

1

[ shahrp ]

adjective

, sharp·er, sharp·est.
  1. having a thin cutting edge or a fine point; well-adapted for cutting or piercing:

    a sharp knife.

    Antonyms: dull

  2. terminating in an edge or point; not blunt or rounded:

    The table had sharp corners.

  3. involving a sudden or abrupt change in direction or course:

    a sharp curve in the road; The car made a sharp turn.

  4. abrupt, as an ascent:

    a sharp drop.

  5. consisting of angular lines and pointed forms or of thin, long features:

    He had a sharp face.

  6. clearly defined; distinct:

    a sharp photographic image.

    Synonyms: clear

  7. distinct or marked, as a contrast:

    sharp differences of opinion.

  8. pungent or biting in taste:

    a sharp cheese.

    Synonyms: sour, piquant, bitter, acrid

  9. piercing or shrill in sound:

    a sharp cry.

  10. keenly cold, as weather:

    a sharp, biting wind.

    Synonyms: biting, nipping, piercing

  11. felt acutely; intense; distressing:

    sharp pain.

    Synonyms: excruciating, severe

  12. merciless, caustic, or harsh:

    sharp words.

    Synonyms: biting, pointed, acrimonious, acid, cutting, unmerciful

  13. fierce or violent:

    a sharp struggle.

  14. keen or eager:

    sharp desire.

  15. quick, brisk, or spirited.
  16. alert or vigilant:

    They kept a sharp watch for the enemy.

    Synonyms: attentive

  17. mentally acute:

    a sharp lad.

    Synonyms: clever, perspicacious, discerning, discriminating

  18. extremely sensitive or responsive; keen:

    sharp vision; sharp hearing.

  19. shrewd or astute:

    a sharp bargainer.

  20. shrewd to the point of dishonesty:

    sharp practice.

    Synonyms: deceitful, shady

  21. Music.
    1. (of a tone) raised a chromatic half step in pitch:

      F sharp.

    2. above an intended pitch, as a note; too high ( flat 1def 26b ).
  22. Informal. very stylish:

    a sharp dresser; a sharp jacket.

  23. Radio, Electronics. of, relating to, or responsive to a very narrow range of frequencies. Compare broadband.
  24. Phonetics. fortis; voiceless.
  25. composed of hard, angular grains, as sand.


verb (used with object)

  1. Music. to raise in pitch, especially by one chromatic half step.

verb (used without object)

  1. to sound above the true pitch.

adverb

  1. keenly or acutely.
  2. abruptly or suddenly:

    to pull a horse up sharp.

  3. punctually:

    Meet me at one o'clock sharp.

  4. briskly; quickly:

    The horse turned sharp to the left.

  5. Music. above the true pitch:

    You're singing a little sharp.

noun

  1. something sharp.
  2. Usually sharps. a medium-length needle with a rounded eye and a sharp point, used for all-purpose hand sewing.
  3. a sharper.
  4. Informal. an expert.
  5. Music.
    1. a tone one chromatic half step above a given tone.
    2. (in musical notation) the symbol ♯ indicating this.

Sharp

2

[ shahrp ]

noun

  1. William Fiona Macleod, 1855?–1905, Scottish poet and critic.

sharp

1

/ ʃɑːp /

adjective

  1. having a keen edge suitable for cutting
  2. having an edge or point; not rounded or blunt
  3. involving a sudden change, esp in direction

    a sharp bend

  4. moving, acting, or reacting quickly, efficiently, etc

    sharp reflexes

  5. clearly defined
  6. mentally acute; clever; astute
  7. sly or artful; clever in an underhand way

    sharp practice

  8. bitter or harsh

    sharp words

  9. shrill or penetrating

    a sharp cry

  10. having an acrid taste
  11. keen; biting

    a sharp wind

    sharp pain

  12. music
    1. immediately postpositive denoting a note that has been raised in pitch by one chromatic semitone

      B sharp

    2. (of an instrument, voice, etc) out of tune by being or tending to be too high in pitch Compare flat 1
  13. See fortis
    phonetics a less common word for fortis
  14. informal.
    1. stylish
    2. too smart
  15. at the sharp end
    at the sharp end involved in the area of any activity where there is most difficulty, competition, danger, etc


adverb

  1. in a sharp manner
  2. exactly

    six o'clock sharp

  3. music
    1. higher than a standard pitch
    2. out of tune by being or tending to be too high in pitch Compare flat 1

      she sings sharp

noun

  1. music
    1. an accidental that raises the pitch of the following note by one chromatic semitone Usual symbol
    2. a note affected by this accidental Compare flat 1
  2. a thin needle with a sharp point
  3. informal.
    a sharper
  4. usually plural any medical instrument with sharp point or edge, esp a hypodermic needle

verb

  1. tr music to raise the pitch of (a note), esp by one chromatic semitone Usual equivalent in Britain and certain other countries)sharpen

interjection

  1. slang.
    an exclamation of full agreement or approval

Sharp

2

/ ʃɑːp /

noun

  1. SharpCecil (James)18591924MBritishMUSIC: musicianMUSIC: folk music collector Cecil ( James ). 1859–1924, British musician, best known for collecting, editing, and publishing English folk songs

Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈsharpness, noun
  • ˈsharply, adverb

Discover More

Other Words From

  • sharply adverb
  • sharpness noun
  • over·sharp adjective
  • super·sharp adjective
  • ultra·sharp adjective
  • un·sharp adjective
  • un·sharply adverb
  • un·sharpness noun
  • un·sharped adjective
  • un·sharping adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of sharp1

First recorded before 900; (adjective) Middle English; Old English scearp; cognate with German scharf; (adverb) Middle English; Old English scearpe, derivative of the adjective; (noun, verb) Middle English, derivative of the adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of sharp1

Old English scearp; related to Old Norse skarpr, Old High German scarpf, Old Irish cerb, Lettish skarbs

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

More idioms and phrases containing sharp

  • keep an eye (a sharp lookout) for
  • look sharp

Discover More

Synonym Study

Sharp, keen refer to the edge or point of an instrument, tool, and the like. Sharp applies, in general, to a cutting edge or a point capable of piercing: a sharp knife; a sharp point. Keen is usually applied to sharp edges: a keen sword blade. As applied to mental qualities, sharp, keen, intelligent, quick have varying implications. Sharp suggests an acute, sensitive, alert, penetrating quality: a sharp mind. Keen implies observant, incisive, and vigorous: a keen intellect. Intelligent means not only acute, alert, and active, but also able to reason and understand: an intelligent reader. Quick suggests lively and rapid comprehension, prompt response to instruction, and the like: quick at figures.

Discover More

Example Sentences

The scientists focused on skeletons showing signs of trauma — especially injury with sharp objects.

The employer result has remained above 70% since March, while all levels of government have seen sharp declines.

From Fortune

Because it will take less pressure to cut through a given substance, a sharp knife is also a safer knife.

You have to give people the opportunity to weigh in on challenges and work and I think the diverse POVs that are looking at one particular object really creates sharper work.

From Digiday

Similarly, other studies have found sharp regional differences in mask-wearing.

Having graduated Juilliard last spring, Alex Sharp is too young to have given the performance of a lifetime.

To unwind, Sharp takes long showers, and stops himself from separating his food on his plate as Christopher would.

Sharp was born in London, and spent the first seven years of his life traveling with his family around the US.

Sharp has spent so long being Christopher he can just “drop into him and stay in him consistently” before a performance.

“Everything for someone like Christopher is over-stimulation,” Sharp says.

A sob rose in her throat, and broke from her lips transformed into a trembling, sharp, glad cry.

It was one of those long moments that makes a fellow draw his breath sharp when he thinks about it afterward.

Mrs. Vivian had hardly spoken when the sharp little vibration of her door-bell was heard in the hall.

Whatever you do, don't write a word to that Carr friend of yours; he's as sharp as a two-edged sword.

The farmer told him it was six miles; "but," he added, "you must ride sharp, or you will get a wet jacket before you reach it."

Advertisement

Word of the Day

tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

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


Sharonvillesharp as a tack