smarten

[ smahr-tn ]

/ ˈsmɑr tn /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for smarten on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to make more trim or spruce; improve in appearance (usually followed by up): Try to smarten up your outfit.

to make brisker, as a pace.

to sharpen the judgment or broaden the experience of; educate (usually followed by up): Someone has to smarten him up about dealing with people.

Verb Phrases

smarten up,

to groom oneself: to smarten up before dinner.
to become aware of one's mistakes, shortcomings, etc., and make efforts to correct them: If you don't smarten up, you're going to be out of a job.

QUIZ

GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!

Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.

Question 1 of 9

Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of smarten

First recorded in 1805–15; smart + -en¹

Words nearby smarten

smart card, smart casual, smart drink, smart drug, smart dust, smarten, smartish, smart mob, smart money, smartmouth, smartphone

How to use smarten in a sentence

These tiny devices offer a cheap, simple way to smarten up any gadget without connectivity.
The Best Google smart home starter kit|Billy Cadden|July 28, 2021|Popular-Science
This cheap, tiny plug is a simple way to smarten up an old gadget.
The Best Google smart home starter kit|Billy Cadden|July 28, 2021|Popular-Science
I always shave myself on rest days—it is pleasant to feel clean, even when there is no one to smarten oneself up for.
Trans-Himalaya, Vol. 2 (of 2)|Sven Hedin
The next day we had to smarten up and get ready for the Brigadier-General, who was going to inspect us.
Into the Jaws of Death|Jack O'Brien

It tends to smarten a man, and officers are not slow to pick out the careful from the slovenly soldier.
Training for the Trenches|Leslie Vickers
An' I take it that the bar'l has an influence: some bar'ls kind of wilt cider and some smarten it up, and keep it hearty.
A Country Doctor and Selected Stories and Sketches|Sarah Orne Jewett
Tumble up at once, an' git a lively move on, or I'll be down an' smarten ye up!'
Golden Stories|Various

British Dictionary definitions for smarten

smarten

/ (ˈsmɑːtən) /

verb (usually foll by up)

(intr) to make oneself neater

(tr) to make quicker or livelier

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

smarten

Origin of smarten

Words nearby smarten

Words related to smarten

How to use smarten in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for smarten