intelligently

IPA/ɪnˈtelɪdʒəntli/
KK[ˌɪntˈɛlɪdʒəntli]IPA/ɪnˈtelɪdʒəntli/

intelligently — adverb

1. using reason and good judgment, learning quickly from experience and dealing wit

1.adverbB2
Definition

using reason and good judgment, learning quickly from experience and dealing with situations in a sensible way

Example

Sirin intelligently chose to study engineering because she loved math and physics.

intelligently before verb: intelligently chose

Beatriz answered every question intelligently during the job interview.

adverb after verb: answered ... intelligently

Common collocations
  • answer intelligently
  • choose intelligently
  • decide intelligently
  • design intelligently
  • handle something intelligently
  • invest intelligently
  • speak intelligently
  • think intelligently
  • write intelligently
Synonyms
  • cleverly

    more informal, often suggests quick wit or resourcefulness rather than deep understanding

  • wisely

    emphasises good judgment based on experience and common sense

  • sensibly

    focuses on practical, level-headed decision-making

  • astutely

    implies sharp perception and the ability to see hidden advantages; more formal

Antonyms
  • stupidly

    suggests a lack of intelligence or poor reasoning

  • foolishly

    implies unwise actions without considering the consequences

  • irrationally

    focuses on action not based on reason or logic

Grammar Patterns

verb + intelligently

intelligently + verb

as/so + adverb + as

more/less + intelligently + than

Usage Note

Often used with verbs of thinking, deciding, or communicating (e.g., answer, choose, decide, design, explain, handle, invest, speak, write). Can be placed before or after the verb; position before the verb slightly emphasises the adverb.

Common Mistakes

She answered intelligent during the meeting.
She answered intelligently during the meeting.
'intelligent' is an adjective; the adverb form 'intelligently' is needed to modify the verb 'answered.'
He spoke very intelligent about the project.
He spoke very intelligently about the project.
After a verb, use the adverb form, not the adjective.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four adverbs describe doing something with mental ability, but they differ in nuance. Cleverly suggests quick, inventive thinking — solving a puzzle cleverly or finding a shortcut. Wisely implies good judgment drawn from experience, often with a moral or practical dimension — investing wisely or choosing wisely. Sensibly is more down-to-earth: it means acting with common sense and avoiding unnecessary risk — dressing sensibly for the weather or spending money sensibly. Astutely is the most formal and perceptive: it describes sharp observation and an ability to spot opportunities others miss — an investor who astutely bought shares before the market rose. In everyday conversation, intelligently is the broadest and most neutral of the group.

cleverly ↗wisely ↗sensibly ↗astutely ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • very intelligently
  • quite intelligently
  • most intelligently
  • less intelligently

Phrases

  • act intelligently
  • behave intelligently
  • respond intelligently

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed by adding the adverb suffix -ly to the adjective intelligent. Intelligent comes from Latin intelligens, the present participle of intelligere 'to understand, to perceive', which itself is a blend of inter 'between' and legere 'to choose, pick out, read'. So at its root, doing something intelligently means 'choosing between options with understanding'.