smarten

American  

[smahr-tn] / ˈsmɑr tn /

verb (used with object)

1. to make more trim or spruce; improve in appearance (usually followed byup ).

   Try to smarten up your outfit.

2. to make brisker, as a pace.

3. to sharpen the judgment or broaden the experience of; educate (usually followed byup ).

   Someone has to smarten him up about dealing with people.

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verb phrase

1. smarten up

   1. to groom oneself.

      to smarten up before dinner.

   2. 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.

smarten British  

/ ˈsmɑːtən /

verb

1. (intr) to make oneself neater

2. (tr) to make quicker or livelier

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Etymology

Origin of smarten

First recorded in 1805–15; smart + -en ¹

Example Sentences

"They can fix it," one Whitehall source says, but "they have to realise they have caused it and smarten up how they make decisions".

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2025

“Because of what he did to us, in his mind he had to smarten up. He didn’t get away with it,” Katrina said.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2022

It may not sound as great as the fourth-gen Echo Dot, but it still offers impressive sound for its size and remains an affordable way to smarten up any room.

From The Verge • Jun. 3, 2022

“I would like to see people smarten up so that we don’t have to have a mandate in the first place,” she said.

From New York Times • Dec. 27, 2021

If that fool think somebody saying thank you mean they like you, she need to smarten up.

From "Girls Like Us" by Gail Giles