clever
gb/klˈɛvɚ/ us/klˈɛvɚ/
B1
Anglais
~ 2500
Sens
0 sens
adjective
B1
property
1
Quick to understand or solve problems
Able to think quickly and find smart answers or ideas.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] is clever at [doing something]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'clever' with 'creative'. While 'clever' can involve creativity, it focuses more on quick thinking and problem-solving ability.
Synonymes
smart (Very close in meaning; 'smart' is more common in American English for intelligence in general.)
|
bright (Suggests natural intelligence, often about learning quickly.)
Antonymes
stupid (Lacking intelligence or the ability to think quickly.)
|
slow-witted (Taking a long time to understand or respond.)
Collocations
clever idea
|clever solution
|clever plan
|clever trick
Thèmes
intelligence
|communication
|daily life
|education
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- She came up with a clever way to save money.
- That's a clever solution to a difficult problem.
- The clever student finished the puzzle in minutes.
- He made a clever remark that made everyone laugh.
Exemples pédagogiques
- My sister is very clever.
- He is clever at fixing cars.
- That is a clever idea.
- She is clever with numbers.
adjective
B2
property
2
Skillful and inventive in making or doing things
Good at making or doing things in a smart and new way.
Schéma d’usage :
a clever [device/method/design]
Synonymes
ingenious ('Ingenious' suggests especially original and inventive skill.)
Antonymes
clumsy (Lacking skill or effectiveness in making or doing something.)
Collocations
clever design
|clever device
|clever method
Thèmes
creativity
|technology
|daily life
|work
|arts_entertainment
Exemples
- The engineer built a clever device to save energy.
- This is a clever design for a small kitchen.
- She found a clever method to organize her files.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He made a clever tool for the job.
- This is a clever design for the garden.
- She used a clever way to open the box.
adjective
informal
B2
property
3
Witty and quick in conversation
Able to say funny or smart things quickly.
Schéma d’usage :
a clever [remark/comment/reply]
Synonymes
witty ('Witty' focuses more on humor and wordplay than problem-solving.)
Antonymes
dull (Lacking liveliness or sharpness in conversation.)
Collocations
clever remark
|clever comment
|clever reply
Thèmes
communication
|humor
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- He always has a clever reply ready.
- Her clever comments kept the audience laughing.
- That was a clever joke you told.
Exemples pédagogiques
- She made a clever joke.
- He gave a clever answer to the question.
- That was a clever remark.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
clever
API
GB/klˈɛvɚ/
US/klˈɛvɚ/
Syllabes et accentuation
clev - er (2 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (clev)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: clever
- Comparative: cleverer
- Superlative: cleverest
Famille de mots
Forms
cleverer
adjective
cleverest
adjective
Core family
cleverly
adverb
cleverness
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
unclever
adjective
Expressions
clever clogs
1/klˈɛvɚ klˈɔɡz/
idiom
informal
Person who acts smarter than others
Someone who shows off how smart they are, often in an annoying way.
Exemples
- Alright, clever clogs, can you do it better?
- Don't be such a clever clogs all the time.
too clever by half
1/tˈu klˈɛvɚ bˈaɪ hˈæf/
idiom
informal
Annoyingly proud of one's own cleverness
Trying to be so smart that it becomes annoying or causes problems.
Exemples
- He's too clever by half, always correcting everyone.
- Don't be too clever by half—it might backfire.