How Do You Spell WITS?

Pronunciation: [wˈɪts] (IPA)

The word "wits" is spelled with the letters W-I-T-S. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced /wɪts/, with the "w" sound being pronounced as in "we" and the "i" sound being pronounced as in "sit". The "t" sound at the end of the word is pronounced clearly, but not overly forceful. "Wits" is a plural noun meaning intelligence, wit, or mental sharpness. It is important to ensure proper spelling of this word as it may affect the intended meaning of a sentence.

WITS Meaning and Definition

  1. Wits, usually used in the plural form, refers to the mental faculties, intelligence, or cleverness possessed by an individual. It denotes the ability to think quickly and use one's mind effectively to solve problems, make decisions, or interact with others. The term 'wits' is often associated with the concept of wit, which emphasizes a person's capacity for humor, sarcasm, or verbal cleverness.

    The phrase "have one's wits about one" means to be alert, attentive, and mentally sharp in a particular situation, especially when faced with challenges or dangers. It implies being fully aware and prepared to respond appropriately. Additionally, it may also connote having good judgment and common sense.

    Wits can also refer to a person's mental stability or sanity. In this context, phrases like "out of one's wits" or "lose one's wits" suggest a state of extreme confusion, distress, or derangement. Conversely, "have all one's wits" signifies being lucid, composed, or in control of one's mental faculties.

    Furthermore, the expression "match wits with someone" implies engaging in a mental contest or competition, typically requiring quick thinking, problem-solving skills, or a display of intellectual prowess. It suggests a battle of intelligence or wit between two individuals, often in the form of verbal repartee or intellectual challenges.

    Overall, wits encompass a broad range of cognitive abilities, including cleverness, mental agility, humor, and sound judgment, and the term is commonly used to describe an individual's intellectual capabilities, quick-thinking, and overall mental acuity.

  2. Senses; understanding; to be at one's wits end, to have exhausted the last known contrivance or plan; to be at a loss what further step or measure to take; to live by one's wits, to live by shifts and expedients, as one without any regular employment or occupation.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for WITS *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for WITS

Etymology of WITS

The word "wits" has its origins in Old English. It is derived from the Old English word "witan", which means "to know" or "to understand". In Middle English, it evolved into "wit" and had a broader sense, referring to intelligence, intellect, or mental capacity. Over time, the plural form "wits" emerged, indicating both mental faculties and the ability to make clever remarks or jokes.

Idioms with the word WITS

  • collect your wits The idiom "collect your wits" means to take a short moment or pause to regain composure, mentally gather one's thoughts, and regain self-control after a shock, surprise, or difficult situation. It refers to regaining clarity and focus in order to make rational decisions or take appropriate actions.
  • frighten one out of one's wits The idiom "frighten one out of one's wits" means to scare someone so deeply and intensely that they become extremely frightened or terrified. It implies causing such fear that it affects a person's mental and emotional state, possibly impairing their ability to think or reason clearly.
  • gather (or collect) your wits The idiom "gather (or collect) your wits" refers to the act of calming oneself down, focusing, and regaining composure in a situation that may be confusing, overwhelming, or frightening. It implies taking a moment to think clearly, regain control, and react appropriately.
  • keep wits about The idiom "keep wits about" means to remain alert, attentive, and mentally sharp in order to think and react quickly and effectively in a given situation. It implies being cautious and aware of one's surroundings, making sound judgments, and being able to handle unexpected challenges or dangers.
  • frighten one out of wits The idiom "frighten one out of wits" means to terrify or scare someone to an extreme extent, causing them to lose their composure, rationality, or courage.
  • a battle of wits The idiom "a battle of wits" refers to a situation or conflict where two or more individuals engage in intellectual competition, using their intelligence, cleverness, and mental abilities to outsmart or outwit each other. It typically involves a test of strategic thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, or quick wit to gain an advantage over opponents.
  • pit your wits against sb/sth The idiom "pit your wits against sb/sth" means to engage in a contest or competition in which one's intelligence or skills are tested against those of another person or thing. It implies a challenging or competitive situation where one has to use their mental abilities to outsmart or defeat someone or something.
  • gather your wits The idiom "gather your wits" means to collect and compose oneself mentally, especially in a situation that is challenging, unexpected, or requires a quick response. It implies the need to calm down, focus, and think clearly in order to assess the situation or make rational decisions.
  • get one's wits about one The idiom "get one's wits about one" means to regain one's mental clarity, composure, and ability to think or react quickly, especially in a difficult or challenging situation. It refers to the process of gathering and collecting one's thoughts and senses in order to think or act more effectively and efficiently.
  • live by/on (one's) wits The idiom "live by/on (one's) wits" means to survive or accomplish something by using one's intelligence, resourcefulness, or cleverness, especially in challenging or difficult circumstances where other means may not be available or feasible. It suggests relying on one's quick thinking and ability to adapt in order to overcome obstacles or make a living.
  • scare out of one's wits The idiom "scare out of one's wits" means to frighten or terrify someone to the point where they become extremely fearful or panicky. It implies causing intense dread or alarm, often resulting in a loss of composure or rational thinking.
  • battle of wits The idiom "battle of wits" refers to a conflict or competition between individuals or parties that involves strategic and intellectual reasoning, clever arguments, and quick thinking. It typically implies a contest of wit and mental acuity, often seen as an entertaining or challenging engagement of intelligence and cleverness.
  • frighten out of wits The idiom "frighten out of wits" means to scare someone to an extreme degree, causing them to lose their composure or become extremely terrified.
  • have your wits about you The idiom "have your wits about you" means to be alert, cautious, and mentally prepared in order to think and react quickly in a particular situation. It implies being fully aware of one's surroundings and being able to respond calmly and intelligently, especially in challenging or unexpected circumstances.
  • pit wits against The idiom "pit wits against" means to challenge or compete in terms of intelligence, knowledge, or abilities. It refers to a situation where individuals or groups are matched up against each other to determine who is smarter or more skilled.
  • by one's wits The idiom "by one's wits" means to solve a problem or survive a situation through cleverness, intelligence, or resourcefulness, without relying on external assistance or resources. It signifies using one's mental abilities and quick thinking to overcome challenges or difficult circumstances.
  • pit (one's) wits against (someone or something) To "pit one's wits against someone or something" means to challenge or compete with them using one's intelligence, knowledge, or problem-solving abilities. It suggests that a person is testing their mental skills and abilities against an opponent or difficult situation in order to prove their capabilities or find a solution.
  • live by wits The idiom "live by wits" means to survive or make a living by relying on one's intelligence, cleverness, or resourcefulness rather than relying on conventional means or established norms. It implies being able to adapt and find solutions in challenging or difficult circumstances.
  • frighten/scare sb out of their wits The idiom "frighten/scare sb out of their wits" means to cause someone extreme fear or terror, leading them to be temporarily unable to think or react logically. This expression implies that the fear experienced by the person is so intense that it temporarily disables their mental capacity.
  • frighten/scare the wits out of sb, at frighten/scare sb out of their wits The idiom "frighten/scare the wits out of someone, or frighten/scare someone out of their wits" means to terrify or shock someone to such an extreme extent that it deeply affects their ability to think or act rationally. It implies a state of extreme fear or panic caused by a frightening or shocking event.
  • pit your wits against The idiom "pit your wits against" means to match or test one's intelligence, knowledge, or problem-solving skills against someone else's in order to prove oneself or compete with them. Essentially, it refers to a mental or intellectual challenge or competition.
  • get wits about one "Get wits about one" is an idiom that means to regain composure, alertness, and presence of mind after a surprising, shocking, or confusing event or situation. It implies collecting oneself, thinking clearly, and being prepared to respond or react effectively.
  • keep one's wits about (one) The idiom "keep one's wits about (one)" means to remain alert, calm, and able to think clearly in a difficult or dangerous situation. It refers to staying composed and using one's intelligence and rationality to make sound decisions under pressure.
  • have/keep your wits about you To have or keep your wits about you means to stay alert, composed, and think quickly and clearly, especially in challenging or dangerous situations. It refers to being mentally sharp and attentive to effectively handle a particular situation or problem.
  • be frightened out of your wits To be frightened out of your wits means to be extremely scared or terrified. This idiom suggests that something has caused such a great fear that it has temporarily overwhelmed one's rational thinking or common sense.
  • match wits (with sm) The idiom "match wits (with someone)" means to engage in a mental contest or competition, testing and trying to outsmart or outwit the other person. It typically refers to a battle of intelligence, cleverness, or problem-solving skills.
  • have (one's) wits about (one) The idiom "have (one's) wits about (one)" means to be alert, attentive, and ready to think quickly in order to respond effectively to a situation. It refers to having one's mental faculties sharp and being fully aware of one's surroundings.
  • live by one's wits The idiom "live by one's wits" means to rely on cleverness, resourcefulness, and quick thinking in order to survive or succeed in difficult or challenging situations, often without conventional means or support.
  • gather (one's) wits The idiom "gather one's wits" means to take a moment to collect or compose oneself, often in a situation that is confusing, overwhelming, or unexpected. It refers to reestablishing mental clarity, composure, and focus before proceeding or making decisions.
  • live by/on your wits The idiom "live by/on your wits" refers to the ability to survive or succeed through one's intelligence, resourcefulness, and quick thinking rather than relying on material possessions, formal training, or assistance from others. It implies relying on one's cleverness, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities to navigate challenging or difficult situations.
  • live by your wits The idiom "live by your wits" means to rely on one's intelligence, cleverness, and resourcefulness to solve problems and navigate challenging situations, often in the absence of financial or material resources. It suggests using one's mental abilities and quick thinking to find solutions and make a living.
  • be frightened (or scared) out of your wits The idiom "be frightened (or scared) out of your wits" means to be extremely scared or terrified. It implies that the fear experienced is so intense that it overwhelms one's ability to think logically or remain composed.
  • pit your wits against someone The idiom "pit your wits against someone" means to challenge or compete with someone else in a battle of intelligence, quick thinking, or problem-solving skills. It denotes a situation where individuals or groups are testing their mental abilities or cleverness against each other in order to determine superiority or success.
  • collect (one's) wits The idiom "collect (one's) wits" means to gather one's thoughts or regain composure after a shock, surprise, or confusing situation in order to think clearly and act appropriately. It involves taking a moment to calm down and regain mental focus.
  • have/keep (all) your wits about you The idiom "have/keep (all) your wits about you" means to remain alert, cautious, and vigilant in a particular situation or context. It suggests staying composed and mentally sharp, being able to think and react quickly.
  • frighten sb out of their wits The idiom "frighten someone out of their wits" means to scare or startle someone extremely or excessively. It implies that the person is left feeling terrified or fearful to an extreme extent, often causing them to lose their composure or rational thinking momentarily.
  • at one's wits' end The idiom "at one's wits' end" means to be extremely frustrated, puzzled, or at a complete loss for a solution to a problem or situation. It is when someone has tried everything they can think of and are still unable to find a resolution.
  • be at wits' end To be at wits' end means to be extremely frustrated, confused or distressed, and unable to think clearly or find a solution to a problem.
  • drive somebody out of their mind/wits To drive somebody out of their mind/wits means to make someone extremely annoyed, frustrated, or crazy.
  • be at your wits' end The idiom "be at your wits' end" means to be extremely frustrated, confused or anxious and not know what to do next.
  • at wits' end The idiom "at wits' end" means to be extremely frustrated, confused, or distressed, and not know what to do next.
  • at your wits' end The phrase "at your wits' end" means to be extremely stressed, frustrated, or confused and unsure of what to do next.

Similar spelling words for WITS

Plural form of WITS is WITS

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