1 at one\'s wit\'s end | Definition of at one\'s wit\'s end
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wit

noun
\ ˈwit How to pronounce wit (audio) \

Definition of wit

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a : the ability to relate seemingly disparate things so as to illuminate or amuse
b(1) : a talent for banter or persiflage
(2) : a witty utterance or exchange
c : clever or apt humor
d : astuteness of perception or judgment : acumen
2a : a person of superior intellect : thinker
b : an imaginatively perceptive and articulate individual especially skilled in banter or persiflage
3a : reasoning power : intelligence
b : mind, memory
4a : sense 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
at one's wit's end or at one's wits' end
: at a loss for a means of solving a problem

wit

verb
\ ˈwit How to pronounce wit (audio) \
wist\ ˈwist How to pronounce wist (audio) \; witting; present first and third person singular wot\ ˈwät How to pronounce wot (audio) \

Definition of wit (Entry 2 of 2)

1 archaic : know
2 archaic : to come to know : learn
Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about wit

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Choose the Right Synonym for wit

Noun

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. a satire on the Congress repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily. a dinner guest noted for repartee

Examples of wit in a Sentence

Noun

 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.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

 Shrimp saganaki — whole shrimp cooked in a spicy tomato sauce and topped wit halloumi — makes a great one-pot dish to serve family style and for dragging bread through all the flavorful sauce. — Los Angeles Times, "Swipe right on spicy shrimp saganaki," 28 Aug. 2019 Launched in 2012 by Macli and David Ponte, Audiomack began as a mixtape hosting site for hip-hop artists like A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Migos, Fetty Wap, Kevin Gates and Chance The Rapper, and has since grown across genres. — Tatiana Cirisano, Billboard, "Warner Music Enters Licensing Deal With Audiomack," 22 Aug. 2019 Tchaikovsky based the opera on the novel by Pushkin, whose style was romantic but also had darkness and sarcasm and dry wit. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "‘Cinderella’ kicks off Opera NEO season," 21 July 2019 Not since Winston Churchill has such a wit presided over Her Majesty’s Government. — Kyle Smith, National Review, "Who Is Boris Johnson?," 19 July 2019 And Edwin Edwards married a pocketknife wit to a mellifluous accent redolent of the French-speaking countryside, a combination that earned him four terms in office but could not keep him out of federal prison. — Richard Fausset, New York Times, "In Louisiana, Messaging During Storms Carries Big Political Weight," 15 July 2019 McDowell has a dry wit and worked in baseball as a consultant and as an addiction counselor. — Marc Bona, cleveland.com, "Tickets remain for Rocky Colavito program; ex-Indians McDowell, Tiant, Fuller added," 2 July 2019 There’s way too much darkness, and not enough quicksilver wit. — Michael O'sullivan, Twin Cities, "‘Dark Phoenix,’ X-Men’s probable swan song, is a dirge," 6 June 2019 Rachel Cusk has long been one of the finest and most invigorating stylists writing in English, graced with scientific precision, meticulous syntax, and a viperous wit. — Valeria Luiselli, The New York Review of Books, "Claire Messud," 21 Mar. 2019

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.

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First Known Use of wit

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for wit

Noun

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

Verb

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

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More Definitions for wit

wit

noun
How to pronounce wit (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of wit

: an ability to say or write things that are clever and usually funny
: a person who is known for making clever and funny remarks
: the ability to think or reason

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