quick-witted

American  

[kwik-wit-id] / ˈkwɪkˈwɪt ɪd /

adjective

1. having a nimble, alert mind.

   Synonyms:

   sharp, clever, smart, perceptive, keen

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quick-witted British  

adjective

1. having a keenly alert mind, esp as used to avert danger, make effective reply, etc

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Other Word Forms

• quick-wittedly adverb
• quick-wittedness noun

Etymology

Origin of quick-witted

First recorded in 1520–30; quick + wit ¹ + -ed ³

Explanation

If you've got a knack for coming up with smart comments on the fly, you're quick-witted. The most quick-witted students in a class are often the first to raise their hands to answer the teacher's question (or to supply a sarcastic remark). Anyone whose mind is sharp can be called quick-witted, especially if they've got a great sense of humor and are speedy with a comeback. Being quick-witted is helpful during a debate or when you're playing a game with a time limit. Quick-witted comes from wit, which doesn't just mean "sense of humor," but also "intelligence."

Example Sentences

Enter Digby, a handsome, quick-witted and wealthy enigma who smells faintly of fig.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Being funny — truly, naturally funny — isn’t just about delivering a punchline well or being quick-witted.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2026

Slattery was known and loved for his quick-witted improvisations on the popular Channel 4 show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, from 1988 onwards.

From BBC • Jan. 14, 2025

Gilpin is quick-witted and highly quotable, with a gift for conjuring evocative imagery on the fly, all of which makes for a lively interview.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2025

Martina had been quick-witted enough to grab the ladder before Kate could haul it out of reach, and was waiting only for her dazed companions to climb to their feet again.

From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart

Related Words

• astute
• brainy
• intelligent
• perceptive
• shrewd