sharp

UK: /ˈʃɑːp/ US: /ʃɑrp/ ,(shärp)

Inflections of 'sharp' (adj):

sharper

adj comparative

sharpest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sharp /ʃɑrp/   adj., -er, -est, adv., n. 
adj. 

1. having a thin cutting edge or a fine point for cutting or piercing:
   a sharp knife.
2. ending in an edge or point:
   sharp corners.
3. involving a sudden change in direction:
   a sharp curve in the road.
4. clearly defined;
   distinct:
   a sharp contrast between black and white.
5. biting in taste:
   a sharp cheese.
6. piercing in sound:
   a sharp cry.
7. keenly cold, such as weather:
   a sharp, biting wind.
8. felt strongly;
   intense:
   a sharp pain in his arm.
9. harsh;
   quick and angry:
   some sharp words about your behavior.
10. alert or vigilant:
    Keep a sharp watch.
11. mentally quick;
    keen:
    a sharp lad.
12. shrewd or clever:
    a sharp bargainer.
13. shrewd to the point of dishonesty:
    sharp practice.
14. [Music.]
    • (of a tone) raised a half step in pitch:
      F sharp.
    • above an intended pitch, as a note;
      too high (opposed to flat ).
15. [Informal.] very stylish:
    a sharp dresser.

adv. 

16. keenly, carefully, or alertly:
    to look sharp.
17. abruptly or suddenly:
    turned sharp and ran.
18. punctually;
    exactly at (a certain time):
    one o'clock sharp.
19. [Music.] above the true pitch:
    to sing sharp.

n. [countable]

20. sharper.
21. [Music.]
    • a tone one half step above a given tone.
    • (in musical notation) the symbol ♯ indicating this.

sharp•ly, adv.: 

spoke sharply to the dog.

sharp•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sharp  (shärp), adj., -er, -est, v., adv., n. 
adj. 

1. having a thin cutting edge or a fine point;
   well-adapted for cutting or piercing:
   a sharp knife.
2. terminating in an edge or point;
   not blunt or rounded:
   The table had sharp corners.
3. involving a sudden or abrupt change in direction or course:
   a sharp curve in the road; The car made a sharp turn.
4. abrupt, as an ascent:
   a sharp drop.
5. consisting of angular lines and pointed forms or of thin, long features:
   He had a sharp face.
6. clearly defined;
   distinct:
   a sharp photographic image.
7. distinct or marked, as a contrast:
   sharp differences of opinion.
8. pungent or biting in taste:
   a sharp cheese.
9. piercing or shrill in sound:
   a sharp cry.
10. keenly cold, as weather:
    a sharp, biting wind.
11. felt acutely;
    intense;
    distressing:
    sharp pain.
12. merciless, caustic, or harsh:
    sharp words.
13. fierce or violent:
    a sharp struggle.
14. keen or eager:
    sharp desire.
15. quick, brisk, or spirited.
16. alert or vigilant:
    They kept a sharp watch for the enemy.
17. mentally acute:
    a sharp lad.
18. extremely sensitive or responsive;
    keen:
    sharp vision; sharp hearing.
19. shrewd or astute:
    a sharp bargainer.
20. shrewd to the point of dishonesty:
    sharp practice.
21. [Music.]
    • (of a tone) raised a chromatic half step in pitch:
      F sharp.
    • above an intended pitch, as a note;
      too high (opposed to flat).
22. [Informal.] very stylish:
    a sharp dresser; a sharp jacket.
23. [Radio, Electronics.] of, relating to, or responsive to a very narrow range of frequencies. Cf. broadband. 
24. [Phonet.] fortis;
    voiceless.
25. composed of hard, angular grains, as sand.

v.t. 
26. [Music.] to raise in pitch, esp. by one chromatic half step.

v.i. 
27. to sound above the true pitch.

adv. 
28. keenly or acutely.
29. abruptly or suddenly:
    to pull a horse up sharp.
30. punctually:
    Meet me at one o'clock sharp.
31. vigilantly.
32. briskly;
    quickly.
33. [Music.] above the true pitch:
    You're singing a little sharp.

n. 
34. something sharp.
35. Clothing Usually, sharps. a medium-length needle with a rounded eye and a sharp point, used for all-purpose hand sewing.
36. a sharper.
37. [Informal.] an expert.
38. [Music.]
    • a tone one chromatic half step above a given tone.
    • (in musical notation) the symbol ♯ indicating this.
• bef. 900; (adjective, adjectival) Middle English; Old English scearp; cognate with German scharf; akin to Irish cearb a cut (noun, nominal), keen (adjective, adjectival); (adverb, adverbial) Middle English; Old English scearpe, derivative of the adjective, adjectival; (noun, nominal) Middle English, derivative of the adjective, adjectival; (verb, verbal) derivative of the adjective, adjectival
sharp′ly, adv. 
sharp′ness, n. 
Synonyms
• 1. Sharp, keen refer to the edge or point of an instrument, tool, and the like.
  Sharp applies, in general, to a cutting edge or a point capable of piercing:
  a sharp knife; a sharp point.
  Keen is usually applied to sharp edges:
  a keen sword blade.
• 6. clear.
• 8. acrid, bitter, piquant, sour.
• 10. piercing, nipping, biting.
• 11. severe, excruciating.
• 12. unmerciful, cutting, acid, acrimonious, pointed, biting.
• 16. attentive.
• 17. clever, discriminating, discerning, perspicacious. As applied to mental qualities,
  sharp, keen, intelligent, quick have varying implications.
  Sharp suggests an acute, sensitive, alert, penetrating quality:
  a sharp mind.
  Keen implies observant, incisive, and vigorous:
  a keen intellect.
  Intelligent means not only acute, alert, and active, but also able to reason and understand:
  an intelligent reader.
  Quick suggests lively and rapid comprehension, prompt response to instruction, and the like:
  quick at figures.
• 20. shady, deceitful.
Antonyms
• 1. dull.

Sharp  (shärp), n. 

1. Biographical William ("Fiona Macleod''), 1855–?1905, Scottish poet and critic.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sharp / ʃɑːp/ adjective

1. having a keen edge suitable for cutting
2. having an edge or point; not rounded or blunt
3. involving a sudden change, esp in direction: a sharp bend
4. moving, acting, or reacting quickly, efficiently, etc: sharp reflexes
5. clearly defined
6. mentally acute; clever; astute
7. sly or artful; clever in an underhand way: sharp practice
8. bitter or harsh: sharp words
9. shrill or penetrating: a sharp cry
10. having an acrid taste
11. keen; biting: a sharp wind, sharp pain
12. (immediately postpositive) denoting a note that has been raised in pitch by one chromatic semitone: B sharp
13. (of an instrument, voice, etc) out of tune by being or tending to be too high in pitch
    Compare flat123
14. stylish
15. too smart
16. at the sharp end ⇒ involved in the area of any activity where there is most difficulty, competition, danger, etc

adverb

1. in a sharp manner
2. exactly: six o'clock sharp
3. higher than a standard pitch
4. out of tune by being or tending to be too high in pitch: she sings sharp
   

noun

1. an accidental that raises the pitch of the following note by one chromatic semitone
   Usual symbol:
2. a note affected by this accidental
   
3. a thin needle with a sharp point
4. a sharper

verb

1. (transitive) to raise the pitch of (a note), esp by one chromatic semitone
   Usual equivalent in Britain and certain other countries: sharpen

Etymology: Old English scearp; related to Old Norse skarpr, Old High German scarpf, Old Irish cerb, Lettish skarbs

ˈsharply adverb

ˈsharpness noun

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Sharp / ʃɑːp/ noun

1. Cecil (James). 1859–1924, British musician, best known for collecting, editing, and publishing English folk songs