Intelligent: Definition, Usage & Examples

Meaning 1：mentally sharp (intelligent)

intelligent 🔊

/ɪnˈtɛl.ɪ.dʒənt/

adj.

Able to learn and understand things quickly and well.

Intelligent student reading a book in a library, illustrating mental sharpness and focus

mentally sharp 🔊

➕

/ˈmɛntəli ʃɑːrp/

adj.

Describes a person or entity that has the capacity to learn, understand, and process information quickly and effectively.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'intelligens', meaning 'understanding', derived from 'intelligere' (to comprehend).

💡 Mnemonic

"Intelligent" sounds like 'in-tell-a-gent'; imagine a smart agent giving you wise advice.

📖 Example

My history teacher always says I'm an intelligent student because I can quickly grasp complex historical concepts. 🔊 My history teacher frequently praises me as a mentally sharp student due to my ability to rapidly understand intricate historical ideas.

🔗 Collocations

highly intelligent – extremely smart or clever

artificially intelligent – having intelligence simulated by machines or software

intelligent design – a concept suggesting life was created by an intelligent cause

🔄 Synonyms

smart (adj.) – having or showing quick-witted intelligence

clever (adj.) – quick to understand, learn, and devise ideas

bright (adj.) – intelligent and quick-witted

🚫 Antonyms

stupid (adj.) – lacking intelligence or common sense

unintelligent (adj.) – not having or showing intelligence

🌱 Derivatives

intelligence (n.) – the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills

intelligently (adv.) – in an intelligent manner

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'intelligens', the present participle of 'intelligere' (to understand). It entered English in the late 16th century and is now central to terms like 'artificial intelligence' in technology.