smart

[ smahrt ]

/ smɑrt /

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See synonyms for: smart / smarter / smartest / smarting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to be a source of sharp, local, and usually superficial pain, as a wound.

to be the cause of a sharp, stinging pain, as an irritating application, a blow, etc.

to feel a sharp, stinging pain, as in a wound.

to suffer keenly from wounded feelings: She smarted under their criticism.

to feel shame or remorse or to suffer in punishment or in return for something.

verb (used with object)

to cause a sharp pain to or in.

adjective, smart·er, smart·est.

quick or prompt in action, as persons.

having or showing quick intelligence or ready mental capability: a smart student.

shrewd or sharp, as a person in dealing with others or as in business dealings: a smart businessman.

clever, witty, or readily effective, as a speaker, speech, rejoinder, etc.

dashingly or impressively neat or trim in appearance, as persons, dress, etc.

socially elegant; sophisticated or fashionable: the smart crowd.

saucy; pert: smart remarks.

sharply brisk, vigorous, or active: to walk with smart steps.

sharply severe, as a blow, stroke, etc.

sharp or keen: a smart pain.

Digital Technology.

(of a machine, system, etc.) equipped with electronic control mechanisms, software programs, etc., and capable of remote, automated, and seemingly intelligent operation: smart copiers;smart weapons;a smart thermostat.
equipped with microprocessors, as for data processing, internet access, etc. (usually used in combination): a smartphone;a smartwatch.

having properties that can be changed in response to stimuli or environmental conditions; self-regulating: smart fabrics that respond to temperature or light.

Older Use. considerable; fairly large.

adverb

in a smart manner; smartly.

noun

a sharp local pain, usually superficial, as from a wound, blow, or sting.

keen mental suffering, as from wounded feelings, affliction, grievous loss, etc.

smarts, Slang. intelligence; common sense: He never had the smarts to use his opportunities.

OTHER WORDS FOR smart

1 pain, hurt, sting.

7 lively, nimble, agile, alert, active.

8 bright, sharp, expert, adroit.

9 cunning, adept.

11 spruce; pretentious, showy.

12 chic.

14 energetic.

16 stinging, poignant, penetrating.

See synonyms for smart on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR smart

8 stupid.

See antonyms for smart on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of smart

First recorded before 1050; Middle English (verb) smerten, Old English -smeortan (only in the compound fyrsmeortende “painful like fire”), cognate with Old High German smerzan (German schmerzen ); (adjective) Middle English smerte, smart “quick, prompt, sharp,” originally, “biting, smarting,” late Old English smearte, akin to the verb; (adverb and noun) Middle English smerte, derivative of the adjective

OTHER WORDS FROM smart

smart·ing·ly, adverbsmart·ly, adverbsmart·ness, nounsu·per·smart, adjective

su·per·smart·ness, nounul·tra·smart, adjectiveun·smart, adjectiveun·smart·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use smart in a sentence

He remains busy trying to penetrate the shield with something much smarter.
A Gift to the Jihadis: The Unseen Airport Security Threat|Clive Irving|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Why the former Florida governor would be smarter to sit out 2016.
Be the Smarter Bush Brother, Jeb: Don’t Run!|Michael Tomasky|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You were certain that she was smarter than you, lovelier than you, more interesting than you.
Is Bigger Better for St. Vincent?|David Yaffe|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I am not one of those people who believe that anyone with a college degree is by definition smarter than those without one.
Are College Educated Police Safer?|Keli Goff|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The irony is that shows that are meant to be funny are often also the smarter shows.
Wanted: Less Terrible Political Coverage on TV|Matt Lewis|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His being slow kept him from giving as much medicine as he would have done had he been a smarter man.
Papers from Overlook-House|Casper Almore
He said the snatcher was smarter than Auntie and he hoped it would teach her a lesson.
Dorothy's Travels|Evelyn Raymond
Maitland could only say that he 'was not an ill-natured fellow, and perhaps a shade smarter than his colleagues.'
Tony Butler|Charles James Lever
The people seated about under the cottonwoods are much smarter than the Methodists we used to know.
Song of the Lark|Willa Cather
I never could see any reason why a human being should feel that he was any better or any smarter than any other average person.
The Pony Rider Boys on the Blue Ridge|Frank Gee Patchin

British Dictionary definitions for smart (1 of 2)

smart

/ (smɑːt) /

adjective

astute, as in business; clever or bright

quick, witty, and often impertinent in speecha smart talker

fashionable; chica smart hotel

well-kept; neat

causing a sharp stinging pain

vigorous or brisk

dialect considerable or numerousa smart price

(of systems) operating as if by human intelligence by using automatic computer control

(of a projectile or bomb) containing a device that allows it to be guided to its target

verb (mainly intr)

to feel, cause, or be the source of a sharp stinging physical pain or keen mental distressa nettle sting smarts; he smarted under their abuse

(often foll by for) to suffer a harsh penalty

noun

a stinging pain or feeling

adverb

in a smart manner

Derived forms of smart

smartish, adjectivesmartly, adverbsmartness, noun

Word Origin for smart

Old English smeortan; related to Old High German smerzan, Latin mordēre to bite, Greek smerdnos terrible

British Dictionary definitions for smart (2 of 2)

Smart

/ (smɑːt) /

noun

Christopher. 1722–71, British poet, author of A Song to David (1763) and Jubilate Agno (written 1758–63, published 1939). He was confined (1756–63) for religious mania and died in a debtors' prison

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

smart

OTHER WORDS FOR smart

OPPOSITES FOR smart

Origin of smart

OTHER WORDS FROM smart

Words related to smart

How to use smart in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for smart (1 of 2)

Derived forms of smart

Word Origin for smart

British Dictionary definitions for smart (2 of 2)