intelligent

[ in-tel-i-juhnt ]

See synonyms for: intelligent intelligently on Thesaurus.com

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).

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 for intelligent

1	bright
2	astute, clever, alert, bright, apt, discerning, shrewd, smart

See synonyms for intelligent on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for intelligent

1, 2

stupid

See antonyms for intelligent on Thesaurus.com

Other words from intelligent

in·tel·li·gent·ly, adverb
hy·per·in·tel·li·gent, adjective
hy·per·in·tel·li·gent·ly, adverb
non·in·tel·li·gent, adjective
non·in·tel·li·gent·ly, adverb
pre·in·tel·li·gent, adjective
pre·in·tel·li·gent·ly, adverb
qua·si-in·tel·li·gent, adjective
qua·si-in·tel·li·gent·ly, adverb
sem·i-in·tel·li·gent, adjective
sem·i-in·tel·li·gent·ly, adverb
su·per·in·tel·li·gent, adjective

Words that may be confused with intelligent

intelligent , intellectual (see synonym study at the current entry)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use intelligent in a sentence

That a non-intelligent Self does not agree with Svetaketu, who possesses intelligence, we have already shown.
The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Sankaracarya | Translator: George Thibaut
For this can apply to the intelligent individual soul only, not to the non-intelligent buddhi.
The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Sankaracarya | Translator: George Thibaut
For a being endowed with intelligence subserves another intelligent being only with the non-intelligent part belonging to it, viz.
The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Sankaracarya | Translator: George Thibaut
In both cases it cannot be the cause of motion in the atoms, because it is non-intelligent.
The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Sankaracarya | Translator: George Thibaut
For the air which is non-intelligent can clearly not be the intelligent Self.
The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Sankaracarya | Translator: George Thibaut

British Dictionary definitions for intelligent

intelligent

/ (ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒənt) /

adjective

having or indicating intelligence
having high intelligence; clever

indicating high intelligence; perceptive: an 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 information: they were intelligent of his whereabouts

Derived forms of intelligent

intelligently, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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