Meanings
cleverly1
comparative more cleverly · superlative most cleverly
- Intelligently directed to a purpose.
Cleverly, he found ways of ingratiating himself with all the important guests.
1 more example
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.
2012 May 13, Andrew Benson, “Williams's Pastor Maldonado takes landmark Spanish Grand Prix win”, in BBC Sport - USdialectalCompletely, fully.
“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.”
1891, Mary Noailles Murfree, In the "Stranger People's" Country, Nebraska, published 2005, page 6
Cleverly2
Synonyms & antonyms
adverbin a clever manner
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Cleverly · proper noun
- Old Englishclǣfre“clover”
- EnglishCleverly
Perhaps a variant of Cleveley, through an irregular development, or a possibly a habitational surname from a lost or unidentified place in Hampshire, from Old English clǣfre (“clover”) + lēah (“woodland clearing, glade”) and thus equivalent to clover + -ley (“lea”).
More words from Old English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Czech chytře
- chytřeintelligently directed to a purpose
Esperanto lerte
- lerteintelligently directed to a purpose
Rhymes & wordplay
Sounds the same
Cite this entry
cleverly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cleverly
“cleverly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cleverly. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cleverly,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cleverly.
Source: cleverly on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.