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# clever

adjective (cleverer, cleverest; or more clever, most clever)

«clever» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Clever means quick to learn and understand things. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clever/#m1)
2. Clever means skilful at doing something, like clever with your hands. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clever/#m2)
3. A clever idea or plan is smart and works well. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clever/#m3)

### In the lessons

In school, being clever helps, but practice and effort matter just as much. In stories, a clever character (like a fox or a trickster) solves problems by thinking, not by strength. Clever can sometimes mean sly, too clever by half. Phrases: clever at, clever with, a clever idea, too clever by half, clever clogs (informal).

### Examples

- She's very clever at maths. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clever/#x1)
- What a clever idea! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clever/#x2)
- The clever fox tricked the crow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clever/#x3)
- He is clever with his hands and builds models. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clever/#x4)
- Crows are clever birds that can use tools. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clever/#x5)
- That's a clever way to solve the puzzle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clever/#x6)
- "What a clever creature!" thinks he. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clever/#x7)

### Note

In British English clever is very common; in American English people often say smart. Clever is about the mind; strong is about the body. Calling someone "too clever" can be a criticism. Cleverer and more clever are both used.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «clever» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clever/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«clever» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clever.html) on Mova free.