adj
clever
KLEHV-uh
adj
1
Mentally quick, smart, and good at coming up with ideas or solving problems.
"It was a clever solution to a tricky problem."
"She's clever enough to talk her way out of almost anything."
2
Skillful with the hands or body; dexterous.
"The magician's clever fingers made the coin disappear."
How to Use Clever
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSmart, quick-witted, or skillful — able to think of good ideas or handle things skillfully.
Common mistake
In British English, calling someone "too clever" can carry a slightly negative, "too smart for their own good" tone — context matters.
Common pairings
a clever idea
clever trick
clever solution
Word Forms
cleverer comparative, more clever comparative, cleverest superlative, most clever superlative
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It was a _____ solution to a tricky problem.
Etymology
From an East Anglian dialect word cliver, meaning "expert at seizing," likely linked to a root meaning "to grip" or "cling" — connected distantly to "cleave."