smartly

American  

[smahrt-lee] / ˈsmɑrt li /

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.

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Other Word Forms

• supersmartly adverb

Etymology

Origin of smartly

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

Example Sentences

There was the neatly coiffed hair, the nicely fitting suit, the smartly positioned tie, even the painfully stern expression from a guy who left no doubt who was running the show.

From Los Angeles Times

Jacks targeted the off side smartly and struck four important fours and Overton clubbed a six in the last over.

From BBC

Some turned out to be bystanders who happened to be smartly dressed.

From Barron's

Pauline said they were dubbed "the Hollywood couple" because they dressed so smartly.

From BBC

But here, Safdie smartly ships his main character around the world to see how outsiders react to the mad energy of New York.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• stylishly
• vigorously