sharp

SHARP/ʃɑɹp/UKSHAHP/ʃɑːp/

Adjectivesharper, sharpest

Adverbsharper, sharpest

Noun pluralsharps

41 meanings of sharp

Practice

1
not bluntadjective
Having a thin edge or fine point that can cut or pierce easily.
Like a needle that can poke through cloth easily.
Be careful, that kitchen knife is very sharp.
She cut her finger on a sharp piece of broken glass.
UsageThe opposite is blunt. A knife can be sharp enough to cut paper.
Similarkeen, pointed, jagged
Oppositeblunt, dull
Note
2
suddenadjective
Happening suddenly and quickly.
Like a sudden jump you don't see coming.
There was a sharp drop in visitors after the storm.
There was a sharp rise in prices last month.
UsageSay a sharp rise or a sharp drop.
Similarsudden, abrupt, steep, rapid
Oppositegradual, gentle, slight
3
finely tunedadjective
Exact and precise, with no mistakes.
Like a ruler that measures exactly right.
The detective had a sharp memory for names and dates.
She has a sharp eye for small spelling mistakes.
UsageSay a sharp picture or sharp eyes.
Similarkeen, acute, precise, fine
Note
4
alertadjective
Clever and quick to notice or understand things.
Like a knife that cuts cleanly: a quick mind notices things fast.
Her grandmother is still sharp at ninety.
The guard was sharp and saw the thief right away.
UsageSay someone has a sharp mind.
Similaralert, astute, quick, perceptive, bright
Oppositedull, slow, dim, obtuse
5
tight angleadjective
Forming a small, tight angle.
Like the pointed tip of a slice of pizza.
The road bends at a sharp angle here.
The river makes a sharp bend near the bridge.
UsageSay a sharp bend in the road.
Similaracute, tight, narrow
Oppositeobtuse, wide
6
clear differenceadjective
Making a very clear difference between things.
Like a clear line drawn between two colors.
There is a sharp difference between the two plans.
The photo shows a sharp line between light and shadow.
UsageSay in sharp contrast to something.
Similarclear, stark, marked, distinct, strong
Oppositesubtle, slight, blurred
7
cutting wordsadjective
Harsh and unkind in the way someone speaks.
Like words that hurt as much as a cut.
She gave a sharp reply that hurt his feelings.
His sharp words made the whole room go quiet.
UsageSay someone was sharp with you, or has a sharp tongue.
Similarharsh, scathing, cutting, stern, severe
Oppositegentle, mild, kind
8
stingingadjective
Strong, sudden, and painful.
Like a quick sting from a needle.
She felt a sharp pain in her side while running.
A sharp wind cut through their thin coats.
UsageOften used in a sharp pain (the opposite of a dull ache).
Similarstabbing, piercing, shooting, acute, biting
Oppositedull, mild
Note
9
sour tasteadjective
Having a strong, sour taste.
Like the sour taste of a fresh lemon.
This cheese has a sharp, sour flavor.
The lemon was so sharp it made her mouth pucker.
UsageSay sharp cheese.
Similartangy, tart, acidic, pungent
Oppositemild, bland
10
stylishadjectivecolloquial
Looking stylish and very smart.
Like an outfit that makes everyone look twice.
He looked sharp in his new suit.
That's a sharp jacket you're wearing.
UsageYou look sharp in nice, smart clothes.
Similarstylish, smart, chic, elegant, snappy
Oppositescruffy, shabby, sloppy
11
exact timeadverb
At an exact time, with no minutes early or late.
Like an alarm that rings at the exact second.
Be there at noon sharp.
The show starts at eight sharp, so hurry up.
UsagePut it after the time: at seven sharp.
Similarexactly, precisely
12
steepadjective
Very steep, like a hill that rises quickly.
Like a hill that's almost straight up.
The trail ends with a sharp climb to the top of the hill.
There's a sharp drop just past the fence.
Similarsteep, precipitous, sheer, abrupt
Oppositegentle, gradual, shallow
13
medical wastenouncountable
Something pointed or sharp-edged, like a needle or blade, that can cut skin. Often used as 'sharps'.
Like a piece of broken glass that can cut your skin.
Never throw a used needle or other sharp in the trash.
Workers must report any sharps left on the ground.
UsageOften used in a sharps box or a sharps bin.
Note
14
music signnouncountable
A musical note made a half step higher, or the symbol ♯ used to show this.
Like a small mark that says 'play higher here'.
The composer wrote a sharp before the note.
There are three sharps in this key signature.
Oppositeflat
Note
15
hard turnadverb
Turning so that the path makes a tight corner, not a gentle curve.
At the gas station, turn sharp left onto Pine Street.
The trail bends sharp right after the big rock, so watch your step.
UsageYou can say turn sharp left or turn sharply left.
Similarhard, abruptly
Oppositegently, gradually

Less common meanings

16
in note namesadjective
Played one small musical step higher than normal.
The song starts on F sharp and then drops down to E.
Make sure you play C sharp, not plain C.
UsagePut it after the letter: F sharp.
Oppositeflat
Note
17
too high (pitch)adjective
A little higher in pitch than the right note.
Like a note sung just a little too high.
Your top note sounded a little sharp.
The violin was sharp, so she tuned it down.
UsageThe opposite is flat, meaning too low.
Oppositeflat
Note
18
raise pitchverbtransitive
To raise a musical note by a half step.
Like nudging a note up one tiny step.
You need to sharp that note to match the key.
The teacher told them to sharp the F.
UsageFor knives, say sharpen.
Similarraise
Oppositeflatten
Note
19
sing too highadverb
In a way that is a little too high in pitch.
Like reaching just above the right note when you sing.
She sang a bit sharp during the chorus.
Tune it down. The string is playing sharp.
UsageSay sing sharp: sing too high.
Oppositeflat
Note
20
shady dealingadjectivecolloquial
Clever in a dishonest way, especially to get money or an advantage in business.
Like a fox that always finds a way to get what it wants.
The car dealer was known for sharp practices and hidden fees.
The car dealer was sharp, and I ended up paying too much.
UsageSharp practice means dishonest business.
Similarunscrupulous, shady, crafty, cunning, sly
Oppositehonest, scrupulous, upright
Note
21
cheatnouncountable
A person who cheats, especially at games or cards.
Like someone who hides cards to cheat at a game.
A card sharp on the cruise ship cheated him out of his money.
The casino hires guards to watch for card sharps.
UsageSay card sharp or card shark.
Similarcheat, swindler, hustler, crook
Note
22
eageradjective
Very eager for something and not wanting to wait for it.
A long swim always gives me a sharp appetite.
The kids came home from the park with sharp appetites and ate everything.
UsageSay a sharp appetite.
Similarkeen, hearty, healthy, voracious
23
grittyadjective
Made of hard, rough grains with sharp edges.
Like rough grains of salt with hard edges.
Mix in some sharp sand to help the water drain.
Builders mix sharp sand into concrete to make it strong.
Similargritty, coarse
Oppositesoft
Note
24
adjective
Full of risky, attacking moves.
25
adjective
In maths, describes a limit or result so tight it cannot be made better.
26
adjectiveobsolete
Fierce and full of strong feeling.
A sharp assault already is begun;
1665, John Dryden, The Indian Emperor: Act III
27
adjectivedated
Said with breath only, not with the voice.
28
adjectiveobsolete
Wanting to eat.
“[W]hy this last week we ha'n't had nothing at all but some dry musty red herrings; so you may think, Miss, we're kept pretty sharp!”
1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia
29
adverb
So that it has a fine tip or cutting side.
30
adverb
In a strong way that seems to cut right through you.
31
adverb
With a strong wish to do or have something.
32
noun
A music scale that starts on a raised note.
33
noundated
A small cutting tool used by doctors in operations.
34
noun
A fast part of a stream.
35
noun
A needle for sewing by hand with a very fine point.
36
noun
A mix of small bits of grain husk and coarse flour left after milling.
37
noundated
Someone who is very good at something.
38
noun
A member of the sharpies, a gang culture of young Australians in the 60s and 70s.
39
noun
A long, narrow fishing boat with a flat bottom.
40
verb
To cheat when buying or selling.
41
verbobsolete
To give a knife or tool a better edge.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of sharp apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English sċearp, from an old Germanic word. It probably goes back to a very old root meaning "to cut."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Sharp descends from Old English sċearp. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English word descends from an earlier Germanic word. en.wiktionary.org