# sharp

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ʃɑːp/ · frequency rank #3,136

## Definitions
1. Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut or pierce easily; not dull, obtuse, or rounded.
2. Intelligent.
3. Raised by one semitone (denoted by the symbol ♯ after the name of the note).
4. Higher in pitch than required.
5. Having a strong acrid or acidic taste.
6. Sudden, abrupt, intense, rapid.
7. Illegal or dishonest.
8. Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interests; shrewd, verging on dishonest.
9. Exact, precise, accurate; keen.
10. Offensive, critical, or acrimonious; stern or harsh.
11. Stylish, smart or attractive.
12. Observant; alert; acute.
13. Quick and alert.
14. Strongly distinguishing or differentiating; acute.
15. Forming a small or tight angle; especially, forming an angle of less than ninety degrees.
16. Steep; precipitous; abrupt.
17. Said of as extreme a value as possible.
18. Tactical; risky.
19. Piercing; keen; severe; painful.
20. Eager or keen in pursuit; impatient for gratification.
21. Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous.
22. Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty.
23. Uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone; aspirated; unvoiced.
24. Hungry.

## Etymology
From Middle English scharp, from Old English sċearp, from Proto-West Germanic *skarp, from Proto-Germanic *skarpaz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kerb-, from *(s)ker- (“to cut”).
Cognate with West Frisian skerp, Low German scherp, scharp, schaarp, Dutch scherp, German scharf, Danish skarp. Compare Irish cearb (“keen; cutting”), Latin acerbus (“tart, bitter”), Tocharian B kärpye (“rough”), Latvian skârbs (“sharp, rough”), Russian щерба (ščerba, “notch”), Polish szczerba (“gap, dent, jag, chip, nick, notch”), Albanian harb (“rudeness”). More at shear.

## Easily confused with
- **star** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-star)
- **ship** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-ship)
- **shop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-shop)
- **snap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-snap)
- **soap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-soap)
- **shaw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-shaw)
- **slap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-slap)
- **swap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-swap)
- **Shri** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-shri)
- **soar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-soar)
- **shay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-shay)
- **spar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-spar)
- **shep** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-shep)
- **shat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-shat)
- **start** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-start)
- **short** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-short)
- **stars** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-stars)
- **smart** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-smart)
- **shirt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-shirt)
- **shore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-shore)

## Common misspellings (8)
`hsarp`, `sahrp`, `shapr`, `sharpp`, `sharrp`, `shharp`, `shrap`, `ssharp`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/sharp