quick-witted

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled quickwitted

US /ˌkwɪkˈwɪtɪd/ UK /ˌkwɪkˈwɪtɪd/ See IPA manual

Freq #61387

Meanings

1

adj
able to think, understand, and reply rapidly and intelligently

The quick-witted lawyer immediately noticed the contradiction in the testimony.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · able to think, understand,... sharp astutenimble-mindedresourceful

Opposites

slow-wittedobtuse

Word family

Derived forms quick-wittedlyquick-wittedness

Related forms wit quick clever

Etymology

A compound of quick in its older sense "alive, mentally alert" + witted ("having a particular kind of wit or intelligence"). The hyphenated spelling makes the two-part adjective explicit.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

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