to wit

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

wit¹ /wɪt/   n. 

1. [uncountable] keen intelligence;
   astuteness.
2. quickness;
   cleverness:
   [uncountable] He lacked the wit to respond in time.
3. [countable] a person having or noted for being amusingly clever.
4. Usually, wits. [plural]
   • the ability to think quickly and clearly;
     resourcefulness;
     ingenuity:
     In a crisis he's able to keep his wits about him.
   • mental faculties;
     senses:
     scared out of her wits.

Idioms

5. Idioms at one's wit's or wits' end, drained or empty of all ideas or mental resources.

wit² /wɪt/   v., wist /wɪst/  wit•ting. Idioms

1. Idioms to wit, [no object] that is to say;
   namely:
   spoke several languages, to wit, English, French, Spanish, German, and Japanese.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

wit¹  (wit), n. 

1. the keen perception and cleverly apt expression of those connections between ideas that awaken amusement and pleasure.
2. speech or writing showing such perception and expression.
3. a person having or noted for such perception and expression.
4. understanding, intelligence, or sagacity;
   astuteness.
5. Usually, wits. 
   • powers of intelligent observation, keen perception, ingenious contrivance, or the like;
     mental acuity, composure, and resourcefulness:
     using one's wits to get ahead.
   • mental faculties;
     senses:
     to lose one's wits.
6. at one's wit's end. See end ¹ (def. 23).
7. keep or have one's wits about one, to remain alert and observant;
   be prepared for or equal to anything:
   to keep your wits about you in a crisis.
8. live by one's wits, to provide for oneself by employing ingenuity or cunning;
   live precariously:
   We traveled around the world, living by our wits.

• bef. 900; Middle English, Old English: mind, thought; cognate with German Witz, Old Norse vit; akin to wit²

Synonyms

• 1. drollery, facetiousness, waggishness, repartee. See humor. 
• 4. wisdom, sense, mind.

wit²  (wit), v.t., v.i., [pres. sing. 1st pers.] wot, 2nd wost, 3rd wot, pres. pl. wit or wite;
 past and past part. wist;
 pres. part. wit•ting. 

1. [Archaic.] to know.
2. to wit, that is to say;
   namely:
   It was the time of the vernal equinox, to wit, the beginning of spring.

• bef. 900; Middle English witen, Old English witan; cognate with Dutch weten, German wissen, Old Norse vita, Gothic witan to know; akin to Latin vidēre, Greek ideîn to see, Sanskrit vidati (he) knows. See wot

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

wit / wɪt/ noun

1. the talent or quality of using unexpected associations between contrasting or disparate words or ideas to make a clever humorous effect
2. speech or writing showing this quality
3. a person possessing, showing, or noted for such an ability, esp in repartee
4. practical intelligence (esp in the phrase have the wit to)
5. mental capacity or a person possessing it

See also witsEtymology: Old English witt; related to Old Saxon giwitt, Old High German wizzi (German Witz), Old Norse vit, Gothic witi. See wit²

wit / wɪt/ verb

1. to be or become aware of (something)

adverb

1. to wit ⇒ that is to say; namely (used to introduce statements, as in legal documents)

Etymology: Old English witan; related to Old High German wizzan (German wissen), Old Norse vita, Latin vidēre to see