Wit
noun
The ability to think quickly and cleverly, especially in making funny or interesting comments.
His sharp wit made him a popular figure at parties
Often appears as...
- sharp wit
- quick wit
noun
A person who is skilled at using words in a funny or clever way.
He was known as the wit of the family
Often appears as...
- famous wit
- skilled wit
noun
The basic human power of intelligent thought and perception, especially your ability to think carefully and make decisions based on reason.
He used all his wit and cunning to find a way out
Often appears as...
- wit and cunning
- wit and wisdom
noun
In old use or literary use, your mind or thoughts.
He was lost in his wits
Often appears as...
- lose one's wits
- gather one's wits
Usage tips
Literary
noun
The ability to think quickly and cleverly, especially in making funny or interesting comments.
His sharp wit made him a popular figure at parties
Often appears as...
- sharp wit
- quick wit
noun
A person who is skilled at using words in a funny or clever way.
He was known as the wit of the family
Often appears as...
- famous wit
- skilled wit
noun
The basic human power of intelligent thought and perception, especially your ability to think carefully and make decisions based on reason.
He used all his wit and cunning to find a way out
Often appears as...
- wit and cunning
- wit and wisdom
noun
In old use or literary use, your mind or thoughts.
He was lost in his wits
Often appears as...
- lose one's wits
- gather one's wits
Usage tips
Literary
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Social Settings
Use 'wit' to describe someone's clever humor in casual and friendly conversations.
At the reunion, her wit was the highlight of the evening.
Pro Tip 2/3Complimentary Tone
'Wit' often implies admiration for someone's cleverness and humor.
His wit is as sharp as his intellect.
Pro Tip 3/3Quick Thinking
'Wit' often suggests quick, spontaneous humor, not jokes that are prepared in advance.
Her quick wit saved the awkward conversation.
Pro Tip 1/3Social Settings
Use 'wit' to describe someone's clever humor in casual and friendly conversations.
At the reunion, her wit was the highlight of the evening.
Pro Tip 2/3Complimentary Tone
'Wit' often implies admiration for someone's cleverness and humor.
His wit is as sharp as his intellect.
Pro Tip 3/3Quick Thinking
'Wit' often suggests quick, spontaneous humor, not jokes that are prepared in advance.
Her quick wit saved the awkward conversation.
Pro Tip 1/3Social Settings
Use 'wit' to describe someone's clever humor in casual and friendly conversations.
At the reunion, her wit was the highlight of the evening.
Pro Tip 2/3Complimentary Tone
'Wit' often implies admiration for someone's cleverness and humor.
His wit is as sharp as his intellect.
Pro Tip 3/3Quick Thinking
'Wit' often suggests quick, spontaneous humor, not jokes that are prepared in advance.
Her quick wit saved the awkward conversation.
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Video examples
Why is being scared so...
Our thinking brains may know the zombies aren't real, but our bodies tell us otherwise. The fear feels real, so when we make it through alive, the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment also feel real. This is a great evolutionary adaptation. Those who had the right balance of bravery and wit
Video examples
David Cameron: The next...
It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate. It measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything, in short,
Video examples
From pacifist to spy:...
When an officer spotted her hanging her aerial, she chatted about her passion for listening to music on the radio– and charmed him into helping her set up the cable. In her entire four month tenure, her sharp wits and stealth never failed her. But her charm had inspired lethal jealousy.
Video examples
TED2015 in review PIPE...
ideas but we especially come here for the free material goods who among us does not remember the line for the gift cave it was a little something like this we're just trying to get a seat here it's very very special I represents an entity known as cultivated wit I am its
Video examples
Bob Mankoff: Anatomy of...
It's making a little bit fun of getting older, and, you know, people might like it. But like I said, you cannot satisfy everyone. You couldn't satisfy this guy. "Another joke on old white males. Ha ha. The wit. It's nice, I'm sure to be young and rude,
Video examples
Why should you read...
Serialization not only made fiction available to a wider audience and kept them reading, but increased the hype around the author himself. Dickens became particularly popular for his wit, which he poured into quirky characters and satiric scenarios.
Video examples
Know your worth, and...
I'm supposed to be the expert in this, but I'm not cured. I knew the value was there. I was convinced the value was there, and I was still scared out of my wits. What if nobody would pay me that? What if clients said, "That's ridiculous.
Video examples
Can you solve the stolen...
the fine will be determined through a game of wits between the merchant and the king’s most clever advisor – you. You’re both told the rules in advance. The merchant will be allowed to discreetly divide his rubies
Video examples
County Jail Booking...
go unarmed that way no weapon ever gets into the wrong hands so all they have to protect themselves other wits and a zero tolerance for any kind of resistance
Video examples
Best Of Frogs PIPE Top 5 PIPE...
he needs to keep his wits about him for the rain also brings out hunters
Video examples
Why is being scared so...
Our thinking brains may know the zombies aren't real, but our bodies tell us otherwise. The fear feels real, so when we make it through alive, the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment also feel real. This is a great evolutionary adaptation. Those who had the right balance of bravery and wit
Video examples
David Cameron: The next...
It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate. It measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything, in short,
Video examples
From pacifist to spy:...
When an officer spotted her hanging her aerial, she chatted about her passion for listening to music on the radio– and charmed him into helping her set up the cable. In her entire four month tenure, her sharp wits and stealth never failed her. But her charm had inspired lethal jealousy.
Video examples
TED2015 in review PIPE...
ideas but we especially come here for the free material goods who among us does not remember the line for the gift cave it was a little something like this we're just trying to get a seat here it's very very special I represents an entity known as cultivated wit I am its
Video examples
Bob Mankoff: Anatomy of...
It's making a little bit fun of getting older, and, you know, people might like it. But like I said, you cannot satisfy everyone. You couldn't satisfy this guy. "Another joke on old white males. Ha ha. The wit. It's nice, I'm sure to be young and rude,
Video examples
Why should you read...
Serialization not only made fiction available to a wider audience and kept them reading, but increased the hype around the author himself. Dickens became particularly popular for his wit, which he poured into quirky characters and satiric scenarios.
Video examples
Know your worth, and...
I'm supposed to be the expert in this, but I'm not cured. I knew the value was there. I was convinced the value was there, and I was still scared out of my wits. What if nobody would pay me that? What if clients said, "That's ridiculous.
Video examples
Can you solve the stolen...
the fine will be determined through a game of wits between the merchant and the king’s most clever advisor – you. You’re both told the rules in advance. The merchant will be allowed to discreetly divide his rubies
Video examples
County Jail Booking...
go unarmed that way no weapon ever gets into the wrong hands so all they have to protect themselves other wits and a zero tolerance for any kind of resistance
Video examples
Best Of Frogs PIPE Top 5 PIPE...
he needs to keep his wits about him for the rain also brings out hunters
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Herm Edwards
American Coach
When it gets going bad and it gets going to where all these things are happening around you, the thing that stands out most is your character. You have to make sure you keep your character and your wits about you, because at the end of the day, it might be bad for a little while, but if you're a good coach it all works out.
Quote examples
Virender Sehwag
Indian Athlete
I believe in wishing my colleagues and other celebs in a manner that brings my wit out and gives people a talking point. But there are people who love and those who hate you. That's part of a celeb's life.
Quote examples
Michael Moorer
American Athlete
No I don't miss fighting, I still got my wits about me and there are a lot of people who do it and get beat up, and I don't want to be one of them, I have children to raise.
Quote examples
Rudyard Kipling
English Writer
If you can keep your wits about you while all others are losing theirs, and blaming you. The world will be yours and everything in it, what's more, you'll be a man, my son.
Quote examples
William Congreve
English Poet
To find a young fellow that is neither a wit in his own eye, nor a fool in the eye of the world, is a very hard task.
Quote examples
William Temple
English
The first ingredient in conversation is truth, the next good sense, the third good humor, and the fourth wit.
Quote examples
Bertrand Russell
British Philosopher
The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.
Quote examples
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
British Statesman
A wise man will live as much within his wit as within his income.
Quote examples
George Meredith
English Novelist
The well of true wit is truth itself.
Quote examples
Thomas Fuller
English Clergyman
The more wit the less courage.
Quote examples
Herm Edwards
American Coach
When it gets going bad and it gets going to where all these things are happening around you, the thing that stands out most is your character. You have to make sure you keep your character and your wits about you, because at the end of the day, it might be bad for a little while, but if you're a good coach it all works out.
Quote examples
Virender Sehwag
Indian Athlete
I believe in wishing my colleagues and other celebs in a manner that brings my wit out and gives people a talking point. But there are people who love and those who hate you. That's part of a celeb's life.
Quote examples
Michael Moorer
American Athlete
No I don't miss fighting, I still got my wits about me and there are a lot of people who do it and get beat up, and I don't want to be one of them, I have children to raise.
Quote examples
Rudyard Kipling
English Writer
If you can keep your wits about you while all others are losing theirs, and blaming you. The world will be yours and everything in it, what's more, you'll be a man, my son.
Quote examples
William Congreve
English Poet
To find a young fellow that is neither a wit in his own eye, nor a fool in the eye of the world, is a very hard task.
Quote examples
William Temple
English
The first ingredient in conversation is truth, the next good sense, the third good humor, and the fourth wit.
Quote examples
Bertrand Russell
British Philosopher
The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.
Quote examples
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
British Statesman
A wise man will live as much within his wit as within his income.
Quote examples
George Meredith
English Novelist
The well of true wit is truth itself.
Quote examples
Thomas Fuller
English Clergyman
The more wit the less courage.
Example 1 of 10
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