smart

1 of 4

adjective

ˈsmärt 

smarter; smartest

1

: having or showing a high degree of mental ability : intelligent, bright

a smart young student

a smart decision/investment/idea

That wasn't a very smart thing to do.

The pursuit of genius or at least being the smartest person in the room continues to tantalize humans.

—Lydia Dishman

2

a

: witty, clever

a smart comedy/sitcom

b

informal : rude or impolite in a bold and disrespectful way

Don't get smart with me.

3

a

: neat entry 1, trim entry 2

soldiers in smart uniforms

b

: stylish or elegant in dress or appearance

For this fall, the smartest skirts will feature hemlines that are either quite long or quite short …

—The New York Times Magazine

a member of the smart set

c

: appealing to sophisticated tastes : characteristic of or patronized by fashionable society

We dined late at the Oasis, possibly the smartest restaurant in town …

—Geri Trotta

4

a

of a weapon : able to be altered in course during flight : being a guided missile

a laser-guided smart bomb

b

: operating by automation

a smart machine tool

c

: using a built-in microprocessor for automatic operation, for processing of data, or for achieving greater versatility

a smart card

By now we're familiar with smart electricity grids, those IT-enhanced networks that generate and distribute power locally …

—Robert Visscher

5

: marked by often sharp, forceful activity or vigorous strength

a smart pull of the starter cord

6

: brisk entry 1, spirited

walking at a smart pace

7

: causing a sharp stinging

… their softest touch as smart as lizard's stings …

—Shakespeare

smartly adverb

smartness noun

smart

2 of 4

verb

smarted; smarting; smarts

intransitive verb

1

: to cause or be the cause or seat of a sharp stinging pain

also : to feel or have such a pain

2

a

: to feel or endure distress, remorse, or embarrassment

smarting from wounded vanity

—W. L. Shirer

b

: to pay a heavy or stinging penalty

would have to smart for this foolishness

smart

3 of 4

noun

1

: a smarting pain

especially : a stinging local pain

2

: poignant grief or remorse

was not the sort to get over smarts

—Sir Winston Churchill

3

smarts plural, slang : intelligence, know-how

smart

4 of 4

adverb

: in a smart manner : smartly

Synonyms

Adjective

• dapper
• natty
• sharp
• snappy
• spruce

Verb

• ache
• hurt
• pain

Noun

• ache
• pain
• pang
• prick
• shoot
• sting
• stitch
• throe
• tingle
• twinge

Examples of smart in a Sentence

Adjective

Poodles are said to be smart dogs.

That was a smart investment.

He gave her a smart answer.

Verb

Her eyes were smarting from the smoke.

the injection only smarted for a moment

Noun

the toddler was whining over the smart from the cut

she had the smarts to start college at age 16, but perhaps not the emotional maturity

Adverb

He plays smart and the fans appreciate that.

I dress smarter than she does.

Play it smart during the contract negotiations and you'll get more vacation time.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Kim would be an excellent addition to this roster: defense, speed, smart ball player. —Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 6 Dec. 2024

Otherwise, draining and rinsing any residual canned bean water is generally a smart idea to reduce the salt load and potential digestive discomfort associated with these pre-cooked legumes. —Christina Manian, Health, 5 Dec. 2024

Verb

Ohio State ran it 11 straight times, an offensive line smarting after a dismal performance in a lethargic win over Nebraska last week responding by shoving the Nittany Lions backward with every snap. —Will Graves, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2024

The Tigers are smarting from a 48-34 loss to host Bishop Verot last week. —Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2024

Noun

With a rare combination of strength, balance, endurance, smarts, and touch for the snow, Shiffrin has rarely DNFed—ski racing lingo for did not finish. —Peggy Shinn, Outside Online, 2 Dec. 2024

The speaker blends vintage looks with innovative smarts, including the ability to use Google Assistant and Alexa interchangeably for all sorts of tasks. —Ryan Waniata, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024

Adverb

No smart-shaming allowed here. —Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2022

That means smart-stacking plates that double as lids for bowls, bowls that nest into serving platters, and so on. —Bon Appétit, 30 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English smert causing pain, from Old English smeart; akin to Old English smeortan

Verb

Middle English smerten, from Old English smeortan; akin to Old High German smerzan to pain

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing smart

• as smart as a whip
• get smart with
• play (it) smart
• smart alec
• smart aleck
• smart-arse
• smart as a whip
• smart-ass
• smart card
• smart cookie
• smart drug
• smart money
• smart-mouthed
• smart move
• smart off
• smart phone
• street-smart
• the smart set
• whip smart

Kids Definition

smart

1 of 4 verb

ˈsmärt 

1

: to cause or feel a sharp stinging pain

2

: to feel mental distress (as regret, resentment, or embarrassment)

smart

2 of 4 adjective

1

: causing a sharp stinging sensation

2

: marked by forceful activity or vigorous strength

3

: brisk sense 1, spirited

a smart pace

4

a

: mentally alert : bright

a smart teacher

b

: sharp in scheming : shrewd

5

a

: witty, clever

b

informal : impudent, flippant

6

a

: stylish or elegant in dress or appearance

b

: worldly-wise, knowing

c

: fashionable

7

a

: being a guided missile

a smart bomb

b

: operating by automation

a smart machine tool

smartly adverb

smartness noun

smart

3 of 4 adverb

: in a smart manner

smart

4 of 4 noun

: a smarting pain

especially : a stinging pain in one small part of the body

Medical Definition

smart

intransitive verb

ˈsmärt 

: to cause or be the cause or seat of a sharp poignant pain

rapid fatigue with burning and smarting of the conjunctiva

—H. G. Armstrong

also : to feel or have such a pain