clever

American  

[klev-er] / ˈklɛv ər /

adjective

• cleverer,
  comparative
• cleverest
  superlative

1. mentally bright; having sharp or quick intelligence; able.

   Synonyms:

   expert, apt, gifted, smart, quick-witted, talented, ingenious

   Antonyms:

   stupid

2. superficially skillful, witty, or original in character or construction; facile.

   It was an amusing, clever play, but of no lasting value.

3. showing inventiveness or originality; ingenious.

   His clever device was the first to solve the problem.

4. adroit with the hands or body; dexterous or nimble.

   Synonyms:

   handy, agile, skillful

   Antonyms:

   clumsy

5. Older Use.

   1. suitable; convenient; satisfactory.

   2. good-natured.

   3. handsome.

   4. in good health.

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clever British  

/ ˈklɛvə /

adjective

1. displaying sharp intelligence or mental alertness

2. adroit or dexterous, esp with the hands

3. smart in a superficial way

4. informal sly; cunning

5. dialect (predicative; used with a negative) healthy; fit

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cleverness
  noun
• overcleverness
  noun
• uncleverness
  noun
• cleverish
  adjective
• overclever
  adjective
• unclever
  adjective
• cleverishly
  adverb
• cleverly
  adverb
• overcleverly
  adverb
• uncleverly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Adjectives

• cleverer
  comparative
• cleverest
  superlative

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

clever cleverer cleverest

Prosecuting, Gordon Menzies said: "It's reasonably practicable for clever people to do a simple thing and design a window that doesn't fall out once every year."

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

He’s got a super-soaker “Goonies”-meets-early-Peter Jackson mindset and a list of clever kills to execute.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

It’s a clever and nasty bit of social engineering — a bait and switch that preys on people’s curiosity and the simple pleasure of feeling included.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

"People delude themselves that the human race is so clever that we'll come up with some wonderful technology that'll make this all go away."

From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026

“She really is clever, Barbatos. May I take her powers, pretty please?”

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

"Is there someone cleverer in Wales?" came the retort.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2024

"Instead it did something even cleverer — it brought together existing genes, which already do other things in different parts of the plant, to make a complicated spot on the petals that deceives male flies."

From Salon ● Mar. 26, 2023

“Who could say what sorts of patterns might give away users who thought they were cleverer than those watching them?”

From Washington Post ● Dec. 29, 2022

“You are much the cleverer of the two,” she tells Sheila, “and because of that I prophesy that you will be the one to give in.”

From New York Times ● Nov. 24, 2022

All the animals nodded in complete agreement, and the cleverer ones at once began to learn the Commandments by heart.

From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell

One night, the five decide to bestow their honorific on Ticky, whom they consider “the cleverest of us all because you can tell the exact time without looking at a clock.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Roy Hattersley, who has died at the age of 93, was one of Labour's cleverest and most articulate post war politicians.

From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026

“Back to the Future” just might be Hollywood’s richest, cleverest blockbuster — and its attention to detail deserves to be re-celebrated.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2025

As fantastical as “Doctor Who” can get, the cleverest being in the universe always has an explanation for everything.

From Salon ● Dec. 25, 2023

The work of teaching and organising the others fell naturally upon the pigs, who were generally recognised as being the cleverest of the animals.

From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell