sharp
1 of 4adjective
ˈshärp 
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
: stylish, dressy
sharply adverb
sharpness noun
sharp
2 of 4adverb
1
: in a sharp manner
2
: exactly
1:15 sharp
sharp
3 of 4noun
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 Carbonesharp
4 of 4verb
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
Synonyms
Adjective
- cutting
- edged
- edgy
- ground
- honed
- keen
- sharpened
- stropped
- trenchant
- whetted
Adverb
- due
- exactly
- full
- just
- precisely
- right
- smack-dab
- squarely
Noun
- ace
- adept
- artist
- authority
- cognoscente
- connoisseur
- crackerjack
- crackajack
- dab [chiefly British]
- dab hand [chiefly British]
- expert
- fiend
- geek
- guru
- hand
- hotshot
- maestro
- master
- maven
- mavin
- meister
- past master
- proficient
- scholar
- shark
- virtuoso
- whiz
- wizard
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 8 Sep. 2022 The explicit effort by Biden to marginalize Trump and his followers marks a sharp recent turn for the president, who preached his desire to bring about national unity in his Inaugural address. Chris Megerian, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2022 And as Hochschild skillfully demonstrates, the Wilson government made a sharp turn toward authoritarianism. Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2022 This handy eyeshadow pencil from NUDESTIX not only nicely includes its own carrying case, but also a sharpener to keep your tool sharp. Tiffany Dodson, Harper's BAZAAR, 30 Aug. 2022 My father had been hired as director of operations at an iron foundry—a sharp turn upward from the shoe store my parents had been running in a grim factory town. Lucy Sante, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Here’s why now is the ideal time to keep your in-demand skills and career-climbing prowess sharp. Laura Smythe, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 While music has helped keep Bennett’s mind sharp, his family and doctors ultimately decided regular traveling and performing would be too physically taxing for the nonagenarian. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Aug. 2022 The New York Police Department released video Sunday morning that showed a man crossing the street in the Bronx when a car took a sharp turn, knocking him into the air, before the occupants allegedly robbed him. Ronn Blitzer, Fox News, 24 July 2022 Bloomberg.com, 14 Dec. 2021 She would be escorted by the Galla, seven demons like sharp-pointed canes. Roberto Calasso, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Norfolk County: two black vultures in Medway and two more soaring over Route I-495 in Wrentham, a family of sharp-shinned hawks at Moose Hill Sanctuary in Sharon, and a grasshopper sparrow at the Shea Naval Air Field in Weymouth. BostonGlobe.com, 23 July 2022 The weeklong summer festival that celebrates everything sharp-toothed and fearsome dives deep into our culture’s love of sharks, returning to Discovery on July 24 through July 30. Sage Anderson, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2022 Cunningham’s sharp-focused work is her most influential. Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2022 The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free agent sharp-shooting forward Joe Ingles. Mike Hart, Journal Sentinel, 7 July 2022 The Celtics are hopeful that the sharp-shooting forward can become a contributor next season, and that possibility would be jump-started by a strong showing in Las Vegas. Adam Himmelsbach, BostonGlobe.com, 5 July 2022 The 27-year-old modeled her sharp-shooting game after Toliver. Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2022 oregonlive, 24 Aug. 2021 At 9:00 sharp on a recent June morning, Peter Campbell stood at the entrance to Naples’ famed National Archaeology Museum. National Geographic, 24 June 2020 Medical sharps are instruments used to administer medications to individuals or pets. Madeline Mitchell, Cincinnati.com, 17 Mar. 2020 Will additional big bets from sharps push the odds before Sunday? Ryan R. Bonini, USA TODAY Sportsbook Wire, 30 Jan. 2020 The sharps realize Navy’s defense has gone from allowing 34 points per game in 2018 to just 18 points per game this season. Joseph Goodman, al, 14 Nov. 2019 But getting dressed casket sharp and howling the night away is only part of the fun. Danielle Pointdujour, Essence, 31 Oct. 2019 Inspired by the '90s, hair legend Adir Abergel gave The Good Place star a razor-sharp blunt cut that falls just underneath her chin. Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, 22 Oct. 2019 In the brief, demonic finale, a test of any violinist's abilities, Lee was confident and fiery throughout, and Fisch kept the orchestra razor-sharp through Barber's tricky rhythmic twists. cleveland.com, 12 Aug. 2019 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 In the new crisis, the FT argues, dividends are sharping up to be the target that bankers’ bonus pay was the last time around. Alan Murray, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2020 Leaders agreed to sharp austerity measures in return for bailouts from the Union and the International Monetary Fund. NBC News, 27 Dec. 2019 May’s sharp rebuke of the president has put pressure on other lawmakers, especially Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, who is also vying for her job, to condemn the tweets. Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 15 July 2019 May’s sharp rebuke of the president has put pressure on other lawmakers, especially Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, who is also vying for her job, to condemn the tweets. Jennifer Hassan, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2019 See More
Adjective
Joe says: Auburn quarterback TJ Finley wasn’t sharp against Mercer in the season opener, giving away two interceptions in the first half. Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 8 Sep. 2022 The explicit effort by Biden to marginalize Trump and his followers marks a sharp recent turn for the president, who preached his desire to bring about national unity in his Inaugural address. Chris Megerian, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2022 And as Hochschild skillfully demonstrates, the Wilson government made a sharp turn toward authoritarianism. Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2022 This handy eyeshadow pencil from NUDESTIX not only nicely includes its own carrying case, but also a sharpener to keep your tool sharp. Tiffany Dodson, Harper's BAZAAR, 30 Aug. 2022 My father had been hired as director of operations at an iron foundry—a sharp turn upward from the shoe store my parents had been running in a grim factory town. Lucy Sante, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Here’s why now is the ideal time to keep your in-demand skills and career-climbing prowess sharp. Laura Smythe, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 While music has helped keep Bennett’s mind sharp, his family and doctors ultimately decided regular traveling and performing would be too physically taxing for the nonagenarian. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Aug. 2022 The New York Police Department released video Sunday morning that showed a man crossing the street in the Bronx when a car took a sharp turn, knocking him into the air, before the occupants allegedly robbed him. Ronn Blitzer, Fox News, 24 July 2022 Adverb
The 33-year-old sharp-shooting guard made five 3s, scored 26 points and rallied the Golden State Warriors to a 102-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Bloomberg.com, 14 Dec. 2021 She would be escorted by the Galla, seven demons like sharp-pointed canes. Roberto Calasso, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Norfolk County: two black vultures in Medway and two more soaring over Route I-495 in Wrentham, a family of sharp-shinned hawks at Moose Hill Sanctuary in Sharon, and a grasshopper sparrow at the Shea Naval Air Field in Weymouth. BostonGlobe.com, 23 July 2022 The weeklong summer festival that celebrates everything sharp-toothed and fearsome dives deep into our culture’s love of sharks, returning to Discovery on July 24 through July 30. Sage Anderson, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2022 Cunningham’s sharp-focused work is her most influential. Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2022 The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free agent sharp-shooting forward Joe Ingles. Mike Hart, Journal Sentinel, 7 July 2022 The Celtics are hopeful that the sharp-shooting forward can become a contributor next season, and that possibility would be jump-started by a strong showing in Las Vegas. Adam Himmelsbach, BostonGlobe.com, 5 July 2022 The 27-year-old modeled her sharp-shooting game after Toliver. Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2022 Noun
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 At 9:00 sharp on a recent June morning, Peter Campbell stood at the entrance to Naples’ famed National Archaeology Museum. National Geographic, 24 June 2020 Medical sharps are instruments used to administer medications to individuals or pets. Madeline Mitchell, Cincinnati.com, 17 Mar. 2020 Will additional big bets from sharps push the odds before Sunday? Ryan R. Bonini, USA TODAY Sportsbook Wire, 30 Jan. 2020 The sharps realize Navy’s defense has gone from allowing 34 points per game in 2018 to just 18 points per game this season. Joseph Goodman, al, 14 Nov. 2019 But getting dressed casket sharp and howling the night away is only part of the fun. Danielle Pointdujour, Essence, 31 Oct. 2019 Inspired by the '90s, hair legend Adir Abergel gave The Good Place star a razor-sharp blunt cut that falls just underneath her chin. Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, 22 Oct. 2019 In the brief, demonic finale, a test of any violinist's abilities, Lee was confident and fiery throughout, and Fisch kept the orchestra razor-sharp through Barber's tricky rhythmic twists. cleveland.com, 12 Aug. 2019 Verb
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 In the new crisis, the FT argues, dividends are sharping up to be the target that bankers’ bonus pay was the last time around. Alan Murray, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2020 Leaders agreed to sharp austerity measures in return for bailouts from the Union and the International Monetary Fund. NBC News, 27 Dec. 2019 May’s sharp rebuke of the president has put pressure on other lawmakers, especially Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, who is also vying for her job, to condemn the tweets. Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 15 July 2019 May’s sharp rebuke of the president has put pressure on other lawmakers, especially Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, who is also vying for her job, to condemn the tweets. Jennifer Hassan, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2019 See More 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
Phrases Containing sharp
Kids Definition
sharp 1 of 3
adjective
ˈshärp
sharper; sharpest
1
: having a thin edge or fine point (as for cutting or piercing)
a sharp knife
2
: brisk and cold
a sharp wind
3
: very smart
a sharp student
4
: attentive sense 1
He kept a sharp watch.
5
: having very good ability to see or hear
You have sharp eyes.
6
: energetic, brisk
We kept up a sharp pace.
7
: showing anger or disapproval
a sharp reply
8
: causing distress : severe
a sharp pain
sharp criticism
9
: strongly affecting the senses
The workshop … had the sharp, warm scent of wood shavings and sawdust. Lloyd Alexander, Time Cat
Lloyd Alexander, Time Cat10
: ending in a point or edge
a sharp mountain peak
11
: involving a sudden and quick change
a sharp drop in the temperature
a sharp turn
12
: clear in outline or detail : distinct
a sharp image
13
: raised in pitch by a half step
F sharp
14
: higher than true pitch
Her singing was slightly sharp.
15
: stylish
a sharp outfit
sharp
2 of 3adverb
1
: at an exact time
four o'clock sharp
2
: at a higher than true pitch
He sang sharp.
sharp
3 of 3noun
1
: a musical note or tone that is a half step higher than the note named
2
: a sign ♯ that tells that a note is to be made higher by a half step
Medical Definition
sharp
noun
ˈshärp
: 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
Sharp
biographical name
ˈshärp
Phillip Allen 1944– American biologist
sharply
adverb
as in neatly
in a strikingly neat and trim manner sharply dressed groomsmen at a formal wedding Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- neatly
- smartly
- carefully
- dashingly
- nattily
- elegantly
- stylishly
- fashionably
- cleanly
- tidily
- snappily
- sprucely
- trimly
- immaculately
- orderly
- fastidiously
- modishly
- fussily
- meticulously
- pristinely
- spotlessly
- swankily
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sloppily
- inelegantly
- slovenly
- dowdily
- untidily
- nastily
- messily
- shabbily
- slatternly
- foully
- scruffily
- sleazily
- filthily
- dingily
- grubbily
- dirtily
- mussily