clever
Americanadjective
-
mentally bright; having sharp or quick intelligence; able.
- Antonyms:
- stupid
-
superficially skillful, witty, or original in character or construction; facile.
It was an amusing, clever play, but of no lasting value.
-
showing inventiveness or originality; ingenious.
His clever device was the first to solve the problem.
-
adroit with the hands or body; dexterous or nimble.
- Antonyms:
- clumsy
-
Older Use.
-
suitable; convenient; satisfactory.
-
in good health.
-
adjective
-
displaying sharp intelligence or mental alertness
-
adroit or dexterous, esp with the hands
-
smart in a superficial way
-
informal sly; cunning
-
dialect (predicative; used with a negative) healthy; fit
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of clever
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English cliver, perhaps from Old English clifer “claw,” clife “burdock,” or akin to East Frisian klüfer “skillful, agile, alert”; see cleavers, cleft 1, clove 2
Explanation
Clever may seem like a compliment, but this adjective boasts a rather broad range of meanings—from "intelligent" and "imaginative" to "calculating" or "contrived." The roots of the word clever, are unknown. It was in use colloquially long before it entered the literary record, and this may be a factor in the word's enduring suppleness. The earliest written examples of clever convey the idea of dexterity — that is, the term was used to describe someone who was good with his hands. Now, clever still means "agile" or "adroit," but it refers to mental, rather than physical, skill. Clever can also be used to describe the products of a nimble mind, such as a "clever scheme" or a "clever device."
Vocabulary lists containing clever
"The Landlady" by Roald Dahl
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"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
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Unit 4: Powerful Openings
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Clever, literary and expansive, “Arachnomania” concludes by returning us to mythos.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
Meanwhile, 84% of prospective buyers expect to pay the asking price or less, Clever Offers found.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 30, 2025
Probably not, according to a study from real estate site Clever, which analyzed data on salaries, home prices, property tax rates and insurance rates.
From Salon • Oct. 24, 2024
Clever, playful lyrics and a strong performance suggest great things to come on “SNL” for Jane Wickline.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 6, 2024
Consider the famous case of Clever Hans, the horse who seemed to be able to count.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
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.
