smarten
[smahr-tn]
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.
Origin of smarten
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for smarten
adjust, amend, correct, debug, doctor, emend, face-lift, overhaul, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, regulate, restore, revamp, revise, sort, spruce, retreadExamples from the Web for smarten
Historical Examples of smarten
At the tavern, where we went to smarten up and to eat, we chanced upon Gregory.
The CavalierGeorge Washington Cable
Antiquity has a charm of its own, and to smarten it up would only damage it.
A Tramp Abroad, CompleteMark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
He's one of the sons, and he'd smarten 'em up if he had his way.
The Eldest SonArchibald Marshall
"Your 'Enery will 'ave to smarten 'isself up a bit fer their dear sakes," I ses.
Mr. Punch's Golf StoriesVarious
This afternoon ammunition drill, &c., to smarten the men up.
Letters from FranceIsaac Alexander Mack
smarten
verb (usually foll by up)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper