Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

cleverly

/ˈklɛvɚli/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.18 in modern English

Syllables: clev-er-ly
IPA: /ˈklɛvɚli/

16

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

Wittily; in a tricky manner.

adv

Intelligently directed to a purpose.

adv

Completely, fully.

American usage

name

A surname from Old English.

Example Sentences

"He joked cleverly with each guest."
"Cleverly, he found ways of ingratiating himself with all the important guests."
"The double world champion quickly closed on to the rear of the Williams, but Maldonado drove cleverly to ensure he was always far enough ahead at the start of the pit straight to ensure Alonso could not pass him."
"“I ain't a-goin' ter let leetle Mose be kep' up hyar till midnight a-waitin' for you-uns ter milk the cow. It's cleverly dark now.”"

Etymology

Etymology tree English clever Middle English -ly English -ly English cleverly From clever + -ly.

Origin

Source language: Old English

Word Breakdown

Root: clǣfre
Suffix: clover

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈklɛvɚli/
British English: /ˈklɛvəli/

Usage

American usage

Inflected Forms

more cleverly (comparative) most cleverly (superlative) Cleverlys (plural) Cleverley (alternative)

Synonyms

smartly

Homonyms

Cleverley cleverly

Rhymes With

beverly beverley everly cheverly heverly everley

Questions

How do you pronounce cleverly?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈklɛvɚli/.
What does cleverly mean?: Wittily; in a tricky manner.
Where does cleverly come from?: It is traced to Old English.

How to pronounce cleverly

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “cleverly”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈklɛvɚli/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “cleverly”.
Repeat and practice — Say “cleverly” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.