wits

¹ British  

/ wɪts /

plural noun

1. (sometimes singular) the ability to reason and act, esp quickly (esp in the phrase have one's wits about one )

2. (sometimes singular) right mind, sanity (esp in the phrase out of one's wits )

3. at a loss to know how to proceed

4. obsolete the five senses or mental faculties

5. to gain a livelihood by craftiness and cunning rather than by hard work

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Wits ² British  

/ wɪts /

noun

1. informal University of the Witwatersrand

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Example Sentences

At the end of each show, the judges pick two characters to face off in a battle of wits.

From Los Angeles Times

Had his wits been wandering at the end?

From Literature

I am reasonably educated, and at 64, I still have most of my wits.

From MarketWatch

Then I got all of my wits together in a hurry.

From Literature

They talk about all of the things that have been left unsaid, buried by their never-ending battle of wits.

From Salon

Related Words

• fun
• joke
• satire