Word Explorer

Sharp

/ʃɑːp/

The symbol ♯, placed after the name of a note in the key signature or before a note on the staff to indicate that the note is to be played a semitone higher.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Sharp"

noun

1
The symbol ♯, placed after the name of a note in the key signature or before a note on the staff to indicate that the note is to be played a semitone higher.
"The pitch pipe sounded out a perfect F♯ (F sharp)."
2
A note that is played a semitone higher than usual; denoted by the name of the note that is followed by the symbol ♯.
3
A note that is sharp in a particular key.
"The piece was difficult to read after it had been transposed, since in the new key many notes were sharps."
4
The scale having a particular sharp note as its tonic.
"Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" is written in C♯ minor (C sharp minor.)"

verb

1
To raise the pitch of a note half a step making a natural note a sharp.
"That new musician must be tone deaf: he sharped half the notes of the song!"
2
To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper.
3
To sharpen.

adjective

1
Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut easily; not obtuse or rounded.
"A face with sharp features"
2
Intelligent.
"My nephew is a sharp lad; he can count to 100 in six languages, and he's only five years old."
3
Higher than usual by one semitone (denoted by the symbol ♯ after the name of the note).
4
Higher in pitch than required.
"The orchestra's third violin several times was sharp about an eighth of a tone."

adverb

1
To a point or edge; piercingly; eagerly; sharply.
2
(notcomp) Exactly.
"I'll see you at twelve o'clock sharp."
3
In a higher pitch than is correct or desirable.
"I didn't enjoy the concert much because the tenor kept going sharp on the high notes."

🔄 Synonyms of "Sharp"

30 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
shrewd	Showing clever resourcefulness in practical matters.
keenverb	(chiefly Commonwealth) Often with a prepositional phrase, or with to and an infinitive: showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness; eager, enthusiastic, interested.
acerbic	(figurative) Sharp, harsh, biting.
astute	Shrewd or crafty.
intense	Of a characteristic: extreme or very high or strong in degree; severe; also, excessive, towering.
perceptive	Having or showing keenness or sharpness of perception, insight, understanding, or intuition.
distinctverb	Different from one another (with the preferable adposition being "from").
incisive	Intelligently analytical and concise. (of a person or mental process)
acutenoun	Intense; sensitive; sharp.
shrillnoun	High-pitched and piercing.
crispnoun	Senses relating to curliness.
tartnoun	A type of small open pie, or piece of pastry, now typically containing jelly (US) / jam (UK) or conserve, or sometimes other fillings (chocolate, custard, egg, butter, historically even meat or other savory fillings).
intelligentnoun	Of high or especially quick cognitive capacity, bright.
highnoun	Physically elevated, extending above a base or average level:
acuateverb	Sharpened; sharp-pointed.
unpleasant	Not pleasant.
acerb	(archaic, figurative) Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself.
precipitous	Steep, like a precipice
abruptverb	Without notice to prepare the mind for the event; sudden; hasty; unceremonious.
sournoun	Tasting of acidity.
pointed	(comparable) Sharp, barbed; not dull.
smartnoun	(intransitive) To hurt or sting.
forceful	Capable of either physical or coercive force; powerful.
steepverb	Of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc. that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical.
suddennoun	Occurring quickly with little or no warning or expectation; instantly.

↔️ Antonyms of "Sharp"

Words with the opposite meaning.

Word	Definition
dullverb	Boring; not exciting or interesting.
flatnoun	Having no variations in height.
naturalnoun	Existing in nature.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Sharp"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
sharpened	Having a sharp point or edge.
pointedverb	(comparable) Sharp, barbed; not dull.
acuate	Sharpened; sharp-pointed.
edged	That has a sharp planar surface.
cutting	That is used for cutting.
piercing	Appearing to look deeply into; penetrating.
stabbingnoun	An incident in which a person is stabbed.
knifelike	Resembling a knife or its effects.
penetrating	Looking deeply into; piercing
penetrative	That can or does physically penetrate something; piercing, penetrating.
scratchingnoun	The act or sound of something being scratched.
crispnoun	Senses relating to curliness.
precipitous	Steep, like a precipice
steep	Of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc. that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical.
high	Physically elevated, extending above a base or average level:
abrupt	Without notice to prepare the mind for the event; sudden; hasty; unceremonious.
smartnoun	Exhibiting social ability or cleverness.
intense	Of a characteristic: extreme or very high or strong in degree; severe; also, excessive, towering.
high-pitched	Of a sound, having a high pitch.
sudden	Occurring quickly with little or no warning or expectation; instantly.