smartly

[smahrt-lee]

adverb

1. in a neat, trim way.

   At this boarding school, students must be smartly dressed and properly prepared for each class.

2. in an elegant, sophisticated, or fashionable way.

   The contemporary white cabinets are smartly accented by modern terracotta tile.

3. in a way that shows quick intelligence or good practical judgment.

   Smartly used, the tools I've highlighted will make you a better and more effective manager.

4. shrewdly or sharply, as in business; strategically.

   Plan smartly, act coolly, and then retaliate when it best suits you.

5. in a clever or witty way.

   The narrator in this song smartly observes that "the only thing that stays the same is everything changes."

6. quickly or promptly.

   When the drill sergeant gives them an order, the recruits obey smartly.

7. briskly or vigorously.

   The detective took the warrant from the officer and walked smartly into the inner office without knocking.

8. in a pert or saucy way.

   Asked if the two of them could stop bickering like children and listen up, she retorted smartly, "I can if he can."

9. in a sharp, precise, or severe way and with a cracking sound, as of striking or slapping.

   Under water, two rocks struck smartly together can be heard over a great distance.

   Mark out the shape of the hole by placing the metal plate in position and tapping it smartly with a hammer.

10. Digital Technology.,  in a remote, automated, self-regulating, or seemingly intelligent way that makes use of electronic control mechanisms and programming, microprocessors, internet access, etc..

    When our all-wheel drive system senses excessive slip, it smartly sends power to the wheel with the surest footing.

11. sharply or keenly, as pain.

    I refused to limp, though my shin hurt smartly from the blow.

Other Word Forms

• supersmartly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of smartly¹

First recorded in 1220–30; 2005–10 smartly for def. 10; smart ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

AI has the data and capacity to optimize for exploration smartly.

Read more on Salon

Judging by the photos his father provides, he dressed smartly, with a sharp haircut and an expectant smile.

Read more on BBC

Osaka smartly drew mistakes from the clearly-uncertain American, whose forehand breaking down in the rallies was the telling factor in a match lasting little over an hour.

Read more on BBC

He was able to smartly lay the ball off for team-mates in the space that was created by his own movements.

Read more on BBC

Russian propaganda, he argues, is also spread smartly: its content is calibrated to cater to specific audiences, even if it means adopting different ideological stances in different regions.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• stylishly www.thesaurus.com
• vigorously