sharp

1 of 4

adjective

1
: adapted to cutting or piercing: such as
a
: having a thin keen edge or fine point
b
: briskly or bitingly cold : nipping
a sharp wind
2
a
: keen in intellect : quick-witted
b
: keen in perception : acute
sharp sight
c
: keen in attention : vigilant
keep a sharp lookout
d
: keen in attention to one's own interest sometimes to the point of being unethical
a sharp trader
also : corrupt, unethical
sharp business practices
3
: keen in spirit or action: such as
a
: full of activity or energy : brisk
sharp blows
b
: capable of acting or reacting strongly
especially : caustic
4
: severe, harsh: such as
a
: inclined to or marked by irritability or anger
a sharp temper
b
: causing intense mental or physical distress
a sharp pain
c
: cutting in language or import
a sharp rebuke
5
: affecting the senses or sense organs intensely: such as
a(1)
: having a strong odor or flavor
sharp cheese
(2)
: acrid
b
: having a strong piercing sound
c
: having the effect of or involving a sudden brilliant display of light
a sharp flash
6
a
: terminating in a point or edge
sharp features
b
: involving an abrupt or marked change especially in direction
a sharp turn
c
: clear in outline or detail : distinct
a sharp image
d
: set forth with clarity and distinctness
sharp contrast
7
a
of a tone : raised a half step in pitch
b
: higher than the proper pitch
c
: major, augmented
used of an interval in music
8
sharply adverb
sharpness noun

sharp

2 of 4

adverb

1
: in a sharp manner
2
: exactly
1:15 sharp

sharp

3 of 4

noun

plural sharps
: one that is sharp: such as
a
: a sharp edge or point
b(1)
: a musical note or tone one half step higher than a note or tone named
(2)
: a character ♯ on a line or space of the musical staff indicating a pitch a half step higher than the degree would indicate without it
c
: a needle with a small eye for sewing by hand
d
: a real or self-proclaimed expert
also : sharper
e
: a medical instrument (such as a scalpel, lancet, or syringe needle) that is sharp or may produce sharp pieces by shattering
usually plural
It is no longer legal to dispose of sharps in the regular trash, Health Director Jeanne M. Galloway said in announcing the new collection station.Angela Carbone

sharp

4 of 4

verb

sharped; sharping; sharps

transitive verb

: to raise (a musical tone) in pitch
especially : to raise in pitch by a half step

intransitive verb

: to sing or play above the proper pitch
Choose the Right Synonym for sharp

sharp, keen, acute mean having or showing alert competence and clear understanding.

sharp implies quick perception, clever resourcefulness, or sometimes questionable trickiness.

sharp enough to spot a confidence game

keen suggests quickness, enthusiasm, and a penetrating mind.

a keen observer of the political scene

acute implies a power to penetrate and may suggest subtlety and sharpness of discrimination.

an acute sense of style

Examples of sharp in a Sentence

Adjective a sharp drop in temperature He took a sharp left turn. a sharp curve in the road Her cheerful mood stands in sharp contrast to her dreary surroundings. Adverb be there at four o'clock sharp Noun the computer sharp that the rest of the staff turns to whenever their PCs act up See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
At this weekend's summit, the changing dynamics of the G20 will be in sharp relief as two of the biggest players, China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin, skip the previously unmissable event. USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2023 Meanwhile, the look was completed with a no makeup-makeup complexion and dagger sharp liners by Daniel Sallstrom. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 9 Sep. 2023 In recent weeks he’s celebrated the sharp decline in inflation in speeches and his new TV ad, part of a $25 million advertising blitz focused on voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and other battleground states. Jim Puzzanghera, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023 After sending Michelle Pfeiffer flouncing off to Paris in French Exit, filmmaker Azazel Jacobs makes a satisfying New York homecoming with His Three Daughters, a sharp, tender tale of sisterhood under duress. Jon Frosch, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2023 News The war in Ukraine appears to be driving a sharp increase in shipments of Russian oil to China through the Bering Strait, prompting new warnings that the traffic threatens the isolated villages and residents’ fish and wildlife harvests on the American side of the border. Nathaniel Herz, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Sep. 2023 Performance is pretty good, the screen is sharp and fluid, and the battery life is great. Medea Giordano, WIRED, 7 Sep. 2023 Shares in mainland China and Hong Kong fell Thursday after data showed a sharp drop in both exports and imports. WSJ, 7 Sep. 2023 At the rear, this bodywork terminates in a sharp crease that seems incongruous with the rounded contours elsewhere. Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 7 Sep. 2023
Adverb
The interplay of forms linear, zigzagged and curved (including decorative finials), smooth and sharp edged, in Dawn’s Wedding Chapel II can keep eye and mind occupied for quite a while. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2023 The 911's steering is as sharp edged as the flat-six, with immediate on-center action and a rear end that's more playful at the limit. Dave Vanderwerp, Car and Driver, 5 July 2023 In 2021, prior to BTS temporarily splitting off into individual sectors while some members pursue solo projects and others complete their mandatory military service, Jung Kook spoke to Rolling Stone about keeping his skillset sharp across the board. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2023 The 27-year-old didn’t come out sharp, allowing three hits, including an RBI single to Royce Lewis, in a 27-pitch first inning. Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2023 Davin Cosby, a sharp-shooting guard that enrolled early to watch the Tide’s postseason run from the bench, will also be eligible. Nick Alvarez | Nalvarez@al.com, al, 6 Apr. 2023 The concept has a sharp-looking interior, with a sporty steering wheel shape, a prominent center console, and dual screens serving as a digital gauge cluster and a large central screen. Joey Capparella, Car and Driver, 15 Mar. 2023 Carry your cat in style in this sharp-looking pet carrier from the travel experts at Away. Lois Alter Mark, Forbes, 10 Nov. 2022 Somehow both sleepy and sharp-edged. Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2022
Noun
More:Michigan health care systems ease mask rules The Dearborn, Taylor, and Sterling Heights Medical Park locations will accept prescribed and over-the-counter pills, medical sharps, needles, and empty syringes in puncture-proof containers, stated the release. Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2023 The black keys represent sharps and flats. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2023 Is Love, an extra-aged sharp, cheddar in which all proceeds are donated to help Southern Oregonians in need. oregonlive, 8 Nov. 2022 The Ghibli’s chassis is tuned for fun, with handling that's sports-car sharp balanced with a refined enough ride to satisfy luxury buyers who might otherwise go for an Audi A6 or a Mercedes-Benz E-class. Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 7 Jan. 2023 Korngold completed his Symphony in F sharp in 1952. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2022 In the depths of the first movement, immediately before Tchaikovsky’s most consuming cry of desolation, the bassoons, basses and timpani hold a low F sharp, for just a beat and a half. David Allen, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2022 Two minutes later, Ruiz put Juan Pablo Torres in on goal with a sharp through ball. Azcentral Sports, The Arizona Republic, 10 Oct. 2022 As a heavy fog rolled in on the first of two nights of performances in Coos Bay, the F sharp went flat. oregonlive, 24 Aug. 2021
Verb
President Barack Obama agreed to sharp spending curbs that only recently expired. Matthew Brown, BostonGlobe.com, 9 May 2023 That could require Republicans to identify even steeper reductions, perhaps totaling $16 trillion, in a move that could expose the party to sharp political attacks. Tony Romm, Jeff Stein and Marianna Sotomayor, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Mar. 2023 Investors are reassessing their outlook for economic growth amid these massive policy risks, leading to sharp down and up movements in stock markets. Christian Weller, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023 The mood of the night was high glam, from flowing gowns to sharp tailoring. Essence Fashion Editors, Essence, 7 Nov. 2022 Additionally, a period of rapid growth is the time to bring in experts to sharp shoot any growth barriers. Kelly O'Neil, Forbes, 7 July 2022 Torres-Rosario still gets laughs, thanks to sharp comic timing in her accented line delivery, but those laughs come in appreciation for her character’s sincerity. Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, 15 May 2021 Tuukka Rask, sharp down the stretch after recovering from a late-season back strain, will be making his 94th playoff appearance. BostonGlobe.com, 15 May 2021 Pick one that’s medium to sharp for a good melt-to-flavor ratio. Catherine Lo, Good Housekeeping, 12 May 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sharp.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English scearp; akin to Old High German scarf sharp and perhaps to Old English scrapian to scrape — more at scrape

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1662, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of sharp was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sharp

Cite this Entry

“Sharp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sharp. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

sharp

1 of 4 adjective
1
a
: having a thin keen edge or fine point
a sharp knife
b
: briskly cold : nipping
sharp biting wind
2
a
: alert in understanding : quick-witted
a sharp student
b
: having very good ability to see or hear
you have sharp eyes
c
: keen in attention to one's own interest sometimes to the point of being dishonest
a sharp customer
3
a
: full of activity or energy : brisk
keep up a sharp pace
b
: eager
a sharp appetite
4
a
: curt, angry
a sharp reply
b
: causing intense mental or physical distress
a sharp pain
sharp criticism
5
: having a strong odor or flavor
sharp cheese
6
a
: ending in a point or edge
sharp features
sharp mountain peaks
b
: involving an abrupt change
a sharp turn
a sharp drop in the temperature
c
: clear in outline or detail : distinct
a sharp image
d
: set forth with clarity and distinctness
sharp contrast
7
a
: higher by a half step than the pitch of the note indicated by the letter name
b
: higher than the true pitch
8
sharply adverb
sharpness noun

sharp

2 of 4 adverb
1
: in a sharp manner : sharply
sang sharp
2
: at an exact time
arrive by four o'clock sharp

sharp

3 of 4 noun
1
: a musical note or tone one half step higher than the note or tone indicated by the letter name
also : a character ♯ on a line or space of the staff indicating such a note or tone
2
: a needle with a small eye for sewing by hand

sharp

4 of 4 verb
1
: to raise in pitch especially by a half step
2
: to sing or play above the true pitch

Medical Definition

sharp

noun
: a medical instrument (as a scalpel, lancet, or syringe needle) that is sharp or may produce sharp pieces by shattering
As I passed the hemostat, the needle clipped my glove and my skin … I then disposed of the sharp and tried to force bleeding.The Journal of the American Medical Association
usually used in plural
It is no longer legal to dispose of sharps in the regular trash, Health Director Jeanne M. Galloway said in announcing the new collection station.Angela Carbone, The Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican

Biographical Definition

Sharp

biographical name

Phillip Allen 1944–     American biologist

More from Merriam-Webster on sharp

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