smart

1 of 4

adjective

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 vanityW. 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 smartsSir Winston Churchill
3
smarts plural, slang : intelligence, know-how

smart

4 of 4

adverb

: in a smart manner : smartly

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
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker. USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024 Fortunately, Amazon shoppers found a smart solution in an under-sink organizer that’s on sale for $24 right now. Lindsey Greenfeld, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 This is just one of the many smart investments Nas has made over the years. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 10 Mar. 2024 The kids are creative, smart, energetic, quirky, weird, nerdy and filled with exhausting enthusiasm. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 Limited Liability Corporations: A Regulatory Success Story History shows that smart regulation can accelerate innovation. Chris Dixon, Fortune, 10 Mar. 2024 Smart Bird Feeder with Camera $190 $110 Make feeding your local birds even more fun with this smart bird feeder. Marilyn La Jeunesse, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2024 Cities or counties may offer rebates for purchasing a smart controller. 3) Add one or more rain barrels. Kobi Bardugo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024 More importantly, it’s designed as a star vehicle for Millie Bobby Brown, who’s made her name playing smart, resourceful, and tougher-than-leather young women more than capable of handling themselves in extraordinary situations. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
Many other businesses are also smarting from sharp pay increases the past few years and worry about a slowing economy, says Christi Patrick, who owns or consults for 44 Express Employment Professionals offices in Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 That’s something that still smarts that she wasn’t nominated. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 5 Mar. 2024 Indeed, the Fed, smarting from this criticism, arguably has kept interest rates high for longer than has been warranted. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2024 Perhaps still smarting from last weekend’s triple-overtime loss to Creighton, the Pirates stumbled at home Wednesday night against a depleted Providence squad and must now head to Milwaukee to face a Golden Eagles’ bunch seeking to avenge their earlier setback against the Hall. USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2024 Hilary, smarting from a recent fight with David, coaxes Puri to drink with her, giving her helper a makeover and one of her formal gowns and encouraging her to practice her audition song. Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2024 Direct From The Global Factory Floor Temu’s business model takes advantage of the confluence between Chinese manufacturers drowning in excess capacity and American consumers smarting from post-Covid-19 price shocks. Drew Bernstein, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 Boeing’s largest union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, is still smarting over a 2014 deal that sacrificed pensions, locked in minimal raises and tied the hands of activists for a decade. Julie Johnsson, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2024 Her prose is slicing and exacting; this is a book that smarts but also comforts with its precise generosity. Chloe Schama, Vogue, 12 Jan. 2024
Noun
While that film made the case for her movie-star bonafides and her producing smarts, she’s also taken on smaller, more challenging roles. Esther Zuckerman, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2024 Good luck divining if a college QB has the vision and smarts to read and react to the NFL game with speed and clarity. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024 Using smarts to draft and develop quarterback Josh Allen. Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2024 With some business smarts and perseverance, this inclusive and egalitarian model could give the old corporate entities a run for the money while keeping the service financially feasible for both end users and infrastructure suppliers. Victoria Chynoweth, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 What has led Hirayama, a man of obvious culture and smarts, to such a spare life? Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Feb. 2024 The typical Holiday–Wilson tempo is a kind of medium-pace chug—neither outright swing nor an invitation to the blues; an alloy in which are cast jazz smarts and a more accessible razzle-dazzle. Elizabeth Barber, Harper's Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 The Vision Pro’s really is not, and the amount of smarts that go into this is likely staggering. Andrew Williams, WIRED, 4 Feb. 2024 Kids can improve their money smarts through PNC’s online learning center, which offers a range of activities, videos and lessons centered on basic money concepts, such as making a spending plan or the difference between wants and needs. Kerri Anne Renzulli, wsj.com, 29 Dec. 2023
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 Here’s another smart-looking slipper that’s well-priced. Danny Perez, Popular Mechanics, 28 Oct. 2022 Monroe eschewed a typical gown in favor of a smart-looking brown suit with a fluffy white collar, while DiMaggio wore a simple suit. Paul Schrodt, Men's Health, 10 Oct. 2022 Seats can be trimmed in a smart-looking gray wool blend, part of Volvo’s effort to eliminate leather use by 2030. cleveland, 24 Sep. 2022 The stand has a sleek design made from thin but sturdy fiberglass, pieced together in a smart-looking Z-shape. Thomas Hindle, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Apr. 2022 The smart-looking bag is made from a two-tone high-tech fabric with a clean design. Adam Morganstern, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2021 The advent of 5G also boosted demand for more powerful server chips to handle cloud computing, artificial intelligence and smart-driving technologies. Takashi Mochizuki, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smart.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of smart was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near smart

Cite this Entry

“Smart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smart. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

smart

1 of 4 verb
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
6
a
: stylish or elegant in dress or appearance
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
: to cause or be the cause or seat of a sharp poignant pain
rapid fatigue with burning and smarting of the conjunctivaH. G. Armstrong
also : to feel or have such a pain

More from Merriam-Webster on smart

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