wits
1 Britishplural noun
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(sometimes singular) the ability to reason and act, esp quickly (esp in the phrase have one's wits about one )
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(sometimes singular) right mind, sanity (esp in the phrase out of one's wits )
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at a loss to know how to proceed
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obsolete the five senses or mental faculties
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to gain a livelihood by craftiness and cunning rather than by hard work
noun
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Now Clark will match wits with Morris while Iowa figures out how to deal with star LSU post player Angel Reese.
From Seattle Times
You have to own how hard it is just to get to this age, and with your wits about you, and good people in your life and how much more there is.
From Seattle Times
The poor volunteer director, who puts in more hours running this organization than she would at a full-time job, is at her wits’ end.
From Washington Post
The communities affected are at their wits' end over the growing boldness of the criminal gangs.
From BBC
The five-time NBA champion as San Antonio’s coach has matched wits with 11 different members of the Basketball Hall of Fame in his career.
From Fox News
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
