sharp

[ shahrp ]

/ ʃɑrp /

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See synonyms for sharp on Thesaurus.com

adjective, sharp·er, sharp·est.

having a thin cutting edge or a fine point; well-adapted for cutting or piercing: a sharp knife.

terminating in an edge or point; not blunt or rounded: The table had sharp corners.

involving a sudden or abrupt change in direction or course: a sharp curve in the road; The car made a sharp turn.

abrupt, as an ascent: a sharp drop.

consisting of angular lines and pointed forms or of thin, long features: He had a sharp face.

clearly defined; distinct: a sharp photographic image.

distinct or marked, as a contrast: sharp differences of opinion.

pungent or biting in taste: a sharp cheese.

piercing or shrill in sound: a sharp cry.

keenly cold, as weather: a sharp, biting wind.

felt acutely; intense; distressing: sharp pain.

merciless, caustic, or harsh: sharp words.

fierce or violent: a sharp struggle.

keen or eager: sharp desire.

quick, brisk, or spirited.

alert or vigilant: They kept a sharp watch for the enemy.

mentally acute: a sharp lad.

extremely sensitive or responsive; keen: sharp vision; sharp hearing.

shrewd or astute: a sharp bargainer.

shrewd to the point of dishonesty: sharp practice.

Music.

(of a tone) raised a chromatic half step in pitch: F sharp.
above an intended pitch, as a note; too high (opposed to flat¹ def. 26b).

Informal. very stylish: a sharp dresser; a sharp jacket.

Radio, Electronics. of, relating to, or responsive to a very narrow range of frequencies.Compare broadband.

Phonetics. fortis; voiceless.

composed of hard, angular grains, as sand.

verb (used with object)

Music. to raise in pitch, especially by one chromatic half step.

verb (used without object)

to sound above the true pitch.

adverb

keenly or acutely.

abruptly or suddenly: to pull a horse up sharp.

punctually: Meet me at one o'clock sharp.

briskly; quickly: The horse turned sharp to the left.

Music. above the true pitch: You're singing a little sharp.

noun

something sharp.

Usually sharps . a medium-length needle with a rounded eye and a sharp point, used for all-purpose hand sewing.

a sharper.

Informal. an expert.

Music.

a tone one chromatic half step above a given tone.
(in musical notation) the symbol ♯ indicating this.

OTHER WORDS FOR sharp

6 clear.

8 acrid, bitter, piquant, sour.

10 piercing, nipping, biting.

11 severe, excruciating.

12 unmerciful, cutting, acid, acrimonious, pointed, biting.

16 attentive.

17 clever, discriminating, discerning, perspicacious.

20 shady, deceitful.

See synonyms for sharp on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR sharp

1 dull.

See antonyms for sharp on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about sharp

look sharp. look (def. 37).

Origin of sharp

First recorded before 900; (adjective) Middle English; Old English scearp; cognate with German scharf; (adverb) Middle English; Old English scearpe, derivative of the adjective; (noun, verb) Middle English, derivative of the adjective

synonym study for sharp

1. Sharp, keen refer to the edge or point of an instrument, tool, and the like. Sharp applies, in general, to a cutting edge or a point capable of piercing: a sharp knife; a sharp point. Keen is usually applied to sharp edges: a keen sword blade. 17. As applied to mental qualities, sharp, keen, intelligent, quick have varying implications. Sharp suggests an acute, sensitive, alert, penetrating quality: a sharp mind. Keen implies observant, incisive, and vigorous: a keen intellect. Intelligent means not only acute, alert, and active, but also able to reason and understand: an intelligent reader. Quick suggests lively and rapid comprehension, prompt response to instruction, and the like: quick at figures.

OTHER WORDS FROM sharp

sharply, adverbsharpness, nouno·ver·sharp, adjectivesu·per·sharp, adjective

ul·tra·sharp, adjectiveun·sharp, adjectiveun·sharp·ly, adverbun·sharp·ness, nounun·sharped, adjectiveun·sharp·ing, adjective

Words nearby sharp

Sharleen, Sharm al-Sheikh, Sharon, sharon fruit, Sharonville, sharp, sharp as a tack, sharpbender, sharpbill, sharp-cut, Sharpe

Other definitions for sharp (2 of 2)

Sharp

[ shahrp ]

/ ʃɑrp /

noun

William "Fiona Macleod", 1855?–1905, Scottish poet and critic.

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

How to use sharp in a sentence

The scientists focused on skeletons showing signs of trauma — especially injury with sharp objects.
Women like Mulan didn’t need to go to war in disguise|Bethany Brookshire|September 4, 2020|Science News For Students
The employer result has remained above 70% since March, while all levels of government have seen sharp declines.
Workers trust their employers during the pandemic—for now|Alan Murray|September 3, 2020|Fortune
Because it will take less pressure to cut through a given substance, a sharp knife is also a safer knife.
Three Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Knife|Wes Siler|September 3, 2020|Outside Online
You have to give people the opportunity to weigh in on challenges and work and I think the diverse POVs that are looking at one particular object really creates sharper work.
Deep Dive: How companies and their employees are facing the future of work|Digiday|September 1, 2020|Digiday

Similarly, other studies have found sharp regional differences in mask-wearing.
In The Time Of The COVID-19 Pandemic, What Should You Say To Someone Who Refuses To Wear A Mask? A Philosopher Weighs In|LGBTQ-Editor|August 30, 2020|No Straight News
Having graduated Juilliard last spring, Alex Sharp is too young to have given the performance of a lifetime.
Hedwig, Hugh & Michael Cera: 12 Powerhouse Theater Performances of 2014|Janice Kaplan|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To unwind, Sharp takes long showers, and stops himself from separating his food on his plate as Christopher would.
The Brit Who Stormed Broadway|Tim Teeman|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sharp was born in London, and spent the first seven years of his life traveling with his family around the US.
The Brit Who Stormed Broadway|Tim Teeman|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sharp has spent so long being Christopher he can just “drop into him and stay in him consistently” before a performance.
The Brit Who Stormed Broadway|Tim Teeman|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Everything for someone like Christopher is over-stimulation,” Sharp says.
The Brit Who Stormed Broadway|Tim Teeman|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A sob rose in her throat, and broke from her lips transformed into a trembling, sharp, glad cry.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
It was one of those long moments that makes a fellow draw his breath sharp when he thinks about it afterward.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Mrs. Vivian had hardly spoken when the sharp little vibration of her door-bell was heard in the hall.
Confidence|Henry James
Whatever you do, don't write a word to that Carr friend of yours; he's as sharp as a two-edged sword.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
The farmer told him it was six miles; "but," he added, "you must ride sharp, or you will get a wet jacket before you reach it."
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various

British Dictionary definitions for sharp (1 of 2)

sharp

/ (ʃɑːp) /

adjective

having a keen edge suitable for cutting

having an edge or point; not rounded or blunt

involving a sudden change, esp in directiona sharp bend

moving, acting, or reacting quickly, efficiently, etcsharp reflexes

clearly defined

mentally acute; clever; astute

sly or artful; clever in an underhand waysharp practice

bitter or harshsharp words

shrill or penetratinga sharp cry

having an acrid taste

keen; bitinga sharp wind; sharp pain

music

(immediately postpositive) denoting a note that has been raised in pitch by one chromatic semitoneB sharp
(of an instrument, voice, etc) out of tune by being or tending to be too high in pitchCompare flat 1 (def. 23)

phonetics a less common word for fortis

informal

stylish
too smart

at the sharp end involved in the area of any activity where there is most difficulty, competition, danger, etc

adverb

in a sharp manner

exactlysix o'clock sharp

music

higher than a standard pitch
out of tune by being or tending to be too high in pitchshe sings sharp Compare flat 1 (def. 29)

noun

music

an accidental that raises the pitch of the following note by one chromatic semitoneUsual symbol: ♯
a note affected by this accidentalCompare flat 1 (def. 35)

a thin needle with a sharp point

informal a sharper

(usually plural) any medical instrument with sharp point or edge, esp a hypodermic needle

verb

(tr) music, US and Canadian to raise the pitch of (a note), esp by one chromatic semitoneUsual equivalent in Britain and certain other countries): sharpen

interjection

Southern African slang an exclamation of full agreement or approval

Derived forms of sharp

sharply, adverbsharpness, noun

Word Origin for sharp

Old English scearp; related to Old Norse skarpr, Old High German scarpf, Old Irish cerb, Lettish skarbs

British Dictionary definitions for sharp (2 of 2)

Sharp

/ (ʃɑːp) /

noun

Cecil (James). 1859–1924, British musician, best known for collecting, editing, and publishing English folk songs

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with sharp

sharp

In addition to the idioms beginning with sharp

sharp as a tack
sharp practice

also see:

keep an eye (a sharp lookout) for
look sharp

sharp

OTHER WORDS FOR sharp

OPPOSITES FOR sharp

Idioms about sharp

Origin of sharp

synonym study for sharp

OTHER WORDS FROM sharp

Words nearby sharp

Other definitions for sharp (2 of 2)

Words related to sharp

How to use sharp in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sharp (1 of 2)

Derived forms of sharp

Word Origin for sharp

British Dictionary definitions for sharp (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with sharp