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
3
4
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
sharply
adverb
sharpness
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
Angela Carbone
sharped; sharping; sharps
: to raise (a musical tone) in pitch
especially
: to raise in pitch by a half step
: to sing or play above the proper pitch
Synonyms
Adjective
Adverb
Noun
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 WebUSA 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
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
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
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
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
Phrases Containing sharp
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.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
sharp
1 of 4 adjective1
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
4
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
sharply
adverb
sharpness
noun
sharp
2 of 4 adverb1
: in a sharp manner : sharply
sang sharp
2
: at an exact time
arrive by four o'clock sharp
sharp
3 of 4 noun1
: 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 verb1
: 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
The Journal of the American Medical AssociationIt 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
Angela Carbone, The Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican
Biographical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on sharp
Nglish: Translation of sharp for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of sharp for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sharp
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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