intelligent
/in'telidʤənt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having or showing the ability to easily learn, understand, or think about things; bright or clever. This is the core meaning, describing a person or entity with a high mental capacity.
- Able to process information and use knowledge effectively; showing good judgment or sound reasoning. This meaning focuses on the practical application of intelligence, often in solving problems or making decisions.
- Endowed with intellect or consciousness, especially to a high degree. This meaning is often used in contexts like science or philosophy to discuss entities capable of complex thought.
Usage Examples
- Describing a person's mental ability:
- She is an intelligent student who grasps new concepts quickly.
- The interview panel was looking for an intelligent and creative candidate.
- Describing a decision, solution, or action:
- The engineer proposed an intelligent design that saved both materials and time.
- Investing in education is an intelligent choice for a country's future.
- Describing non-human entities or systems:
- Scientists are searching for signs of intelligent life on other planets.
- The new software uses intelligent algorithms to predict user behavior.
Advanced Usage
- "Intelligent design": A controversial concept proposing that certain features of the universe and living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process like natural selection.
- The debate over evolution versus intelligent design continues in some school districts.
- "Intelligent agent" (in computing/artificial intelligence): A system that perceives its environment and takes actions to achieve goals.
- An intelligent agent in a smart home can manage heating and lighting based on occupancy.
Variants and Related Words
- Intelligence (n): The general ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.
- Her intelligence and hard work led to her promotion.
- Intelligently (adv): In a way that shows intelligence.
- He intelligently redirected the conversation to a safer topic.
- Intelligentsia (n): The group of people in a society who are highly educated and interested in culture, ideas, and intellectual activities.
- The novel was popular among the intelligentsia.
Synonyms
- Clever: Quick to understand, learn, and devise ideas.
- Bright: Intelligent and quick-witted.
- Smart: Having or showing a quick-witted intelligence (often very similar to 'intelligent' in American English).
- Astute: Having an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage.
- Rational: Based on or in accordance with reason or logic.
Antonyms
- Stupid: Lacking intelligence or common sense.
- Unintelligent: Not intelligent.
- Foolish: Lacking good sense or judgment; unwise.
- Irrational: Not logical or reasonable.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- (To be) intelligent about something: To be knowledgeable or act wisely regarding a specific matter.
- You need to be intelligent about how you manage your finances.
- Artificially Intelligent: Possessing intelligence demonstrated by machines, as opposed to natural intelligence shown by humans and animals.
- The car features an artificially intelligent navigation system.
Adjective
- endowed with the capacity to reason
- exercising or showing good judgment
- healthy scepticism
- a healthy fear of rattlesnakes
- the healthy attitude of French laws
- healthy relations between labor and management
- an intelligent solution
- a sound approach to the problem
- sound advice
- no sound explanation for his decision
- possessing sound knowledge
- well-informed readers
- having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree
- is there intelligent life in the universe?
- an intelligent question