wit

play

verb \ ˈwit \

Definition of wit

wist play \ˈwist\; witting; present first and third person singular wot play \ˈwät\

1 archaic :know

2 archaic :to come to know :learn

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Recent Examples of wit from the Web

ESPN had him recently on the No. 1 college football broadcast team with Kirk Herbstreit before relegating him to the new SEC Network wits its 2014 launch.

— Orange County Register, "Hoffarth: Brent Musburger retirement decision came before Joe Mixon comments, ESPN says," 25 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of wit

Middle English witen (1st & 3rd singular present wot, past wiste), from Old English witan (1st & 3rd singular present wāt, past wisse, wiste); akin to Old High German wizzan to know, Latin vidēre to see, Greek eidenai to know, idein to see

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

wit

noun

Definition of wit

1 a :mind, memory

b :reasoning power :intelligence

2 a :sense 2a —usually used in plural

alone and warming his five wits, the white owl in the belfry sits
—Alfred Tennyson

b (1) :mental soundness :sanity —usually used in plural

(2) :mental capability and resourcefulness :ingenuity

3 a :astuteness of perception or judgment :acumen

b :the ability to relate seemingly disparate things so as to illuminate or amuse

c (1) :a talent for banter or persiflage

(2) :a witty utterance or exchange

d :clever or apt humor

4 a :a person of superior intellect :thinker

b :an imaginatively perceptive and articulate individual especially skilled in banter or persiflage

— at one's wit's end or at one's wits' end

:at a loss for a means of solving a problem

See wit defined for English-language learners

Examples of wit in a Sentence

She is full of wit and vivacity.
His latest book doesn't have the same wit as his earlier books.
The book is a collection of his wit and wisdom.
She was a famous writer and wit.

Recent Examples of wit from the Web

Center officials watched Gunn quickly build a rapport with newcomers with his rare mix of acerbic wit and blunt honesty, eased by empathy.

— beth warren, The Courier-Journal, "‘I was scared to get sober': He dealt heroin, now he's been clean six years," 24 Aug. 2017
Rowling's been known a time or two to dish out some wit on Twitter, notably engaging in feuds with President Donald Trump and taking down a certain anti-transgender conservative commentator.

— krystin arneson, Glamour, "J.K. Rowling Just Shut Down Someone Who Mansplained What a Book Was to an Author," 20 Aug. 2017
Though almost nothing Franken comes up with is funny, the memoir nevertheless contains a lot of wit.

— kyle smith, National Review, "Al Franken, Un-Funny Man of the Senate," 7 Aug. 2017
Apparently, this exactly the kind of of rapier wit that the president is looking for in his spokespeople.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump May Lift Sanctions on Russia to ‘Give Collaboration’ a ‘Chance’," 13 July 2017
Her wit, passion, inquisitiveness and good nature were much to be admired.

— sheldon s. shafer, The Courier-Journal, "Renowned Courier-Journal reporter Martha Elson, who illuminated readers for 40 years, dies," 6 July 2017
Gronkowski is well known for his wit and spontaneous appearances.

— david humphrey, star-telegram, "Patriots’ Gronkowski makes sneaky stop at Southlake Carroll," 28 June 2017
The copious invention of Brown's statements inspired a characteristically edgy response from Alden, whose solo bristled with bent notes, punctuating silences, pointed tone and plenty of wit and whimsy.

— howard reich, chicagotribune.com, "Top-notch jazz in an unusual spot — a shopping mall," 27 June 2017
Spencer Kornhaber unpacks the wit in the band’s masterpiece from 20 years ago.

— the editors, The Atlantic, "The Atlantic's Week in Culture," 23 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of wit

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German wizzi knowledge, Old English witan to know

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

wit Synonyms

Synonyms

card, comedian, comic, droll, farceur, funnyman, gagger, gagman, gagster, jester, joker, jokester, wag, humorist

Antonyms

imprudence, indiscretion

Related Words

comedienne, entertainer; banterer, cutup, kidder, knockabout, practical joker, prankster, quipper, quipster, teaser, wisecracker; buffoon, clown, fool, harlequin, zany; caricaturist, lampooner, parodist, satirist

Near Antonyms

shortsightedness; brainlessness, foolishness, half-wittedness, idiocy, senselessness, stupidity; carelessness, heedlessness; unreasonableness

Synonym Discussion of wit

wit, humor, irony, sarcasm, satire, repartee mean a mode of expression intended to arouse amusement. wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous.

- a playful wit

humor implies an ability to perceive the ludicrous, the comical, and the absurd in human life and to express these usually without bitterness.

- a sense of humor

irony applies to a manner of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is seemingly expressed.

- the irony of the title

sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound.

- given to heartless sarcasm

satire applies to writing that exposes or ridicules conduct, doctrines, or institutions either by direct criticism or more often through irony, parody, or caricature.