intelligent
gb/ɪntˈɛlɪd͡ʒənt/ us/ɪntˈɛlɪd͡ʒənt/
B1
English
~ 4800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Having high mental ability
Able to learn and understand things easily; smart.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is intelligent
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'intelligent' with 'educated'. Being intelligent means having the ability to think and understand well, not just having formal education.
Synonyms
smart (Less formal; common in everyday speech.)
|
bright (Informal; often used for children or students.)
Antonyms
stupid (Direct opposite; can be impolite or offensive.)
|
unintelligent (Formal, neutral opposite; less common in daily speech.)
Collocations
highly intelligent
|intelligent person
|intelligent decision
|intelligent child
|intelligent conversation
Themes
education
|psychology
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She is one of the most intelligent students in her class.
- An intelligent leader can make wise decisions quickly.
- He gave an intelligent answer to a difficult question.
- The dog is surprisingly intelligent for its breed.
- Hiring intelligent people is key to a company's success.
Learner examples
- My sister is very intelligent.
- He is an intelligent boy.
- That was an intelligent question.
- The dog is intelligent.
- She is an intelligent student.
adjective
B2
property
2
Advanced and self-operating technology
Describes machines or systems that can work by themselves and make decisions using technology.
Usage pattern:
intelligent [machine/system/device]
Common mistake:
Some learners may confuse 'intelligent' for technology with 'fast' or 'powerful'. It actually means it can make decisions or adapt automatically.
Synonyms
smart (Common in describing devices; often interchangeable in tech contexts.)
Antonyms
manual (Requires human control rather than automatic operation.)
Collocations
intelligent system
|intelligent software
|intelligent robot
|intelligent sensor
Themes
technology
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company developed an intelligent system that adjusts the temperature automatically.
- Intelligent software can detect and fix errors without human help.
- Our home uses intelligent lighting to save energy.
- The factory installed intelligent robots to improve efficiency.
- An intelligent assistant can answer voice commands.
Learner examples
- The phone has an intelligent camera.
- This is an intelligent machine.
- We use intelligent software at work.
- The car has an intelligent system.
- An intelligent robot cleans the floor.
Grammar
Dictionary form
intelligent
IPA
GB/ɪntˈɛlɪd͡ʒənt/
US/ɪntˈɛlɪd͡ʒənt/
Syllables & stress
in - tel - li - gent (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tel)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: intelligent
Word family
Core family
intelligence
noun B1
intelligently
adverb
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
unintelligent
adjective
unintelligently
adverb
Advanced or less common
intelligentsia
noun
Expressions
intelligent design
1/ɪntˈɛlɪd͡ʒənt dɪzˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
formal
Belief life was purposefully created
The belief that life and the world were made by a mind or purpose, not only by nature or chance.
Examples
- Some schools have debated teaching intelligent design alongside evolution.
- Intelligent design remains a controversial topic in science education.
emotional intelligence
1/ɪmˈoʊʃənəl ɪntˈɛlɪd͡ʒəns/
fixed phrase
Skill in handling emotions well
The skill of understanding your feelings and other people's feelings, and using this skill well.
Examples
- Good leaders often have high emotional intelligence.
- Emotional intelligence helps you work better with others.
- Emotional intelligence is important in teamwork.
artificial intelligence
1/ˌɑɹtəfˈɪʃəl ɪntˈɛlɪd͡ʒəns/
fixed phrase
technical
Human-like thinking by machines
The ability of computers or robots to think and learn like humans.
Examples
- Artificial intelligence is used in self-driving cars.
- Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work.
- She is studying artificial intelligence at university.
- Many apps now use artificial intelligence to improve user experience.
artificial intelligence
2/ˌɑɹtəfˈɪʃəl ɪntˈɛlɪd͡ʒəns/
fixed phrase
machine ability to act intelligently
The ability of a computer or machine to do things like learn, solve problems, and make decisions, similar to a human mind.
Examples
- Artificial intelligence helps websites show you products you might like.
- Many people worry about how artificial intelligence will change jobs in the future.