clever
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,706 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 10,622 times across 175,177 chapters — 0.005% of every word in the library.
What it means
adjective
- showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others also: cagey, cagy, canny a cagey lawyertoo clever to be sound
- mentally quick and resourceful also: apt an apt pupilyou are a clever man...you reason well and your wit is bold
- showing inventiveness and skill also: cunning, ingenious a clever gadgetthe cunning maneuvers leading to his success
clever in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
-
But you were thought so jolly clever.
Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 · Various · Chapter 1
-
Though she would not have stupid people about her, she did not always want very clever ones.
Emily Fox-Seton · Frances Hodgson Burnett · Chapter 1
-
She was clever and vulgar and snobbish, and never so intensely British as when she was particularly foreign.
Greville Fane · Henry James · Chapter 1
-
In one of the houses lived a wise old Hyup named Bini Aru, who used to be a clever Sorcerer.
The Magic of Oz · L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum · Chapter 1
-
He lived alone and looked after himself, for he could cook and sew like a woman--at least like the clever ones.
The Torch and Other Tales · Eden Phillpotts · Chapter 1