intelligent
[ in-tel-i-juhnt ]
/ ɪnˈtɛl ɪ dʒənt /
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adjective
having good understanding or a high mental capacity; quick to comprehend, as persons or animals: an intelligent student.
displaying or characterized by quickness of understanding, sound thought, or good judgment: an intelligent reply.
having the faculty of reasoning and understanding; possessing intelligence: intelligent beings in outer space.
Computers. pertaining to the ability to do data processing locally; smart: An intelligent terminal can edit input before transmission to a host computer.Compare dumb (def. 8).
Archaic. having understanding or knowledge (usually followed by of).
SYNONYMS FOR intelligent
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”
Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
Origin of intelligent
First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin intelligent- (stem of intelligēns, present participle of intelligere, variant of intellegere “to understand,” literally, “choose between),” equivalent to intel- (variant of inter- inter-) + -lig- (combining form of leg-, stem of legere “to pick up, choose”; cf. lection) + -ent- -ent
synonym study for intelligent
1. Intelligent, intellectual describe distinctive mental capacity. Intelligent often suggests a natural quickness of understanding: an intelligent reader. Intellectual implies not only having a high degree of understanding, but also a capacity and taste for the higher forms of knowledge: intellectual interests. 2. See sharp.
OTHER WORDS FROM intelligent
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH intelligent
intelligent , intellectual (see synonym study at the current entry)Words nearby intelligent
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for intelligent
British Dictionary definitions for intelligent
intelligent
/ (ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒənt) /
adjective
having or indicating intelligence
having high intelligence; clever
indicating high intelligence; perceptivean intelligent guess
guided by reason; rational
(of computerized functions) able to modify action in the light of ongoing events
(postpositive foll by of) archaic having knowledge or informationthey were intelligent of his whereabouts
Derived forms of intelligent
intelligently, adverbCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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