Meaning & use
astute
Last updated
UK/əˈstjuːt/
US/əˈstuːt/
Meaning
adjectivecomparableapproving
Quick to see how a situation works and to use that understanding to your advantage.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: an astute observer; she is astute.
An astute investor noticed the warning signs early.
Her astute comments helped the committee avoid a mistake.
He was astute enough to read the mood of the room.
Word forms
| comparative | more astute |
|---|---|
| superlative | most astute |
Common combinations
- astute observer
- An astute observer would have spotted the error.
- politically astute
- She is politically astute and rarely misjudges a vote.
- astute businessman
- He was an astute businessman who bought land early.
- astute move
- Moving the launch date was an astute move.
Synonyms and how they differ
- shrewd
- Stresses practical judgment, often in money or bargaining, and can hint at slyness.
- perceptive
- Stresses noticing subtle details, not necessarily using them.
- sharp
- A more casual word for quick-thinking.
- canny
- Suggests careful, cautious cleverness, especially in practical matters.
Opposites
Word family
- astutely adverb
- in an astute way
- astuteness noun
- the quality of being astute
Commonly confused: astute or acute?
astute vs acute
Acute means sharp or severe (acute pain, acute hearing); astute means clever at judging situations.
Practice
Which sentence best uses 'astute'?
Choose one answer.
Astute describes sharp judgment, so a manager who notices a trend early fits. The other options pair it with unrelated ideas.
Make it your own
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