smarten

verb smart·en \ ˈsmär-tᵊn \

|Updated on: 7 Jun 2018

Definition of smarten

smartened; smartening play \ˈsmärt-niŋ, ˈsmär-tᵊn-iŋ\

transitive verb

: to make smart or smarter; especially : spruce —usually used with up

intransitive verb

: to smarten oneself —used with up

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Recent Examples of smarten from the Web

Expect more on PowerBI visualizations in Excel, as well as updates on Windows Machine Learning (Windows ML) to smarten up Windows and your other devices.

— mark hachman, PCWorld, "Microsoft's mobile strategy: Create Windows-like app 'experiences' for smartphones," 7 May 2018
There are also commercial producers with discerning taste and bold instincts, such as Scott Rudin, who are committed to smartening up the Broadway landscape.

— charles mcnulty, latimes.com, "Tony Award nominations reflect an anemic year for original ideas. Here's a critic's take on the bright spots," 1 May 2018
Or they can be smartened up with tapered pants and a crisp shirt.

— kavita daswani, latimes.com, "Esquivel is having a winter sample sale this weekend; Toms to debut Venice Collection of shoes," 9 Feb. 2018
And Lexus finally smartened up and swapped the IS250's 2.5-liter V6 for a 2.0-liter turbo four that's way more powerful.

— ezra dyer, Popular Mechanics, "In a Downsized Turbocharged World, the Lexus RC-F Is the V8 Beast We Need," 3 Aug. 2015
Now scientists at Princeton University have invented a technology aimed at smartening up the millions of windows already in place.

— daniel akst, WSJ, "The Smart Windows That Could Be Sunglasses for Your House," 13 July 2017
Smarten up, Senators Tom Carper (Democrat of Delaware), Mike Crapo (Republican, Idaho), Angus King (Independent, Maine), Sherrod Brown (Democrat, Ohio) and Ron Johnson (Republican, Wisconsin).

— guy trebay, New York Times, "From President Macron, a Lesson in Style," 2 Aug. 2017
Hotels are smartening up in new ways, with thought-provoking experiences for guests that make a more lasting impression.

— kate springer, CNN, "These hotels want to boost your IQ," 9 May 2017
Released this week, Planets is One Ring Zero’s latest attempt to smarten up traditional pop using unconventional sonics and subjects.

— scott thill, WIRED, "One Ring Zero Reboots Holst’s Planets, Keeps Pluto in Mix," 3 Sep. 2010

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'smarten.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of smarten

1782

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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