🔪 Able to cut 🧠 Quick to notice 💬 Harsh or biting 📈 Sudden or steep ⏰ Exactly on time 🔍 Clearly defined ⚡ Intense feeling 🔊 High-pitched sound 🎵 Higher in pitch ↩️ Sudden change ♯ Music sign

sharp

8 5.5

A musical note that is one semitone higher

adjective
/ʃɑrp/

Specialized

: sostenido

B flat tonight, F sharp tomorrow.
C sharp
F sharp
sharp or flat

OK, he starts out in AC sharp minor blue scale.

Autoplay Next

Examples

And remember, the third note is sharp.

Cruel Intentions (1999)
This one is E sharp and this one is G.

And Now for Something Completely Different (1971)
This D could be AD sharp here, right?

Rick Beato
A, B minor, C sharp.

Danny Collins (2015)
Move the sharp chords in the 2nd movement.

Violent Blue (2011)
Anyone who wants her in, sing a G-sharp.

Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
Many of his folk songs are written in ABA form and in sharp keys.

Academic text (1996)
So the scale once again, GA flat, CC sharp, DE flat.
For example, F-sharp became the same note as G-flat, at least on the keyboard.

Academic text (1997)
The song transitions from C major to D sharp in the chorus.

Antonyms

flat

Specialized

15 6.9

Lower in pitch by one half step

Idioms

sharp as a tack

Informal

5 6.7

Able to understand new things very quickly

three o'clock sharp

1 1.4

Exactly at three o'clock

sharp as a bowling ball

Offensive

1 9.3

A person who is not smart and is slow to understand things

a poke in the eye with a sharp stick

Informal

1 9.9

A joking way to say something is very unpleasant or painful

as sharp as a butter knife

Offensive

1 7.5

Fails to make a strong point because it is dull and weak

as sharp as a razor-blade

5.0

Very clear and exact so there is no doubt

Compounds

razor-sharp

18 4.1

Able to cut very easily with a thin hard edge, like a knife

sharp teeth

18 2.5

Pointed teeth that cut or pierce food, for example in sharks

sharp pain

15 3.3

A sudden strong feeling of hurt in one small part of the body

sharp-eyed

14 4.1

Able to see small things and notice small changes quickly

sharp mind

8 3.8

A quick, clear way of thinking that helps solve problems

sharp tongue

7 6.1

A habit of speaking in a harsh, critical way

sharp wit

4 4.1

To make quick, clever, funny comments that amuse people

razor-sharp

3 4.2

Very clear and exact so you can see every small detail

sharp end

3 6.0

The pointed, dangerous part of a thing or the most risky part of a situation

sharp-worded

2 7.1

Saying harsh words to criticize someone or something

sharp suit

2 3.3

A neat, stylish outfit that fits the body well

sharp-cornered

2 4.4

A thing with pointed corners like a table or shelf that can hurt you

sharp cookie

Informal

1 5.6

A clever person who understands things quickly

sharp-nosed

1 4.7

With a pointed nose or front, for example a plane

card sharp

Informal

1 9.3

A person who cheats at card games to win money

sharp-elbowed

1 8.1

Someone who acts in a pushy way to get ahead and promote their own interests

sharp sting

1 3.2

A sudden, strong, short pain like a small prick

sharp-toothed

1 4.0

Having sharp, pointed teeth like a shark

sharp-tasting

1 3.9

A strong, slightly sour taste like in aged cheese or salad dressing

sharp-sighted

1 4.6

Able to see small things very clearly

sharp-sighted

1 5.2

Quick to notice and understand small details

sharp-tailed grouse

1 9.5

A large land bird with pointed tail feathers found in western prairies and open forests

sharp-eared

1 4.9

Able to hear very quiet sounds

sharp joke

1 3.4

A clever joke that can sting someone's feelings

sharp end of the stick

1 7.2

The pointed end of a stick that can cut or poke

sharp riposte

1 8.2

A quick clever reply that answers an insult or criticism

double sharp

Specialized

1 9.1

A sign that tells you to play a note two piano keys higher

sharp-edged comment

Offensive

6.6

A remark that is harsh and meant to hurt someone's feelings

sharp-sightedness

6.6

The ability to see small details clearly with the eyes

sharp-sightedness

6.8

The ability to notice small details by paying attention

Surface Forms

sharp positive

sharper comparative

sharpest superlative

Etymology

Sharp for a musical note is like 'sharpening' a sound to make it higher; think of making a pencil point finer to raise its tip. That is why a sharp note is one semitone higher.