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
Lydia Dishman2
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
The New York Times Magazinea 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
Geri Trotta4
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
Robert Visscher5
: 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
Shakespeare
smartly
adverb
smartness
noun
smarted; smarting; smarts
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
W. L. Shirer
b
: to pay a heavy or stinging penalty
would have to smart for this foolishness
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
Sir Winston Churchill3
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
Jordan Galloway, SELF, 15 July 2025
Instead of chasing trends, smart companies stay committed to long-term brand building and reputation management.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Rob Wile, NBC news, 11 June 2025
This news should help soothe General Hospital fans who are still smarting over the reveal that Jonathan Jackson is leaving Port Charles.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 6 June 2025
Max Bultman, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Finding his family under threat from a pair of psychotic local gangsters, Roman must use both his stock-market smarts and his family’s crematorium to curry favor with, and finally overcome, his enemies.
—Vulture Editors, Vulture, 8 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for smart
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
If you’re just getting started with rebounding and want something compact and easy to use (that doesn’t cost a small fortune), here’s a smart entry point.
—Jordan Galloway, SELF, 15 July 2025
Instead of chasing trends, smart companies stay committed to long-term brand building and reputation management.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Verb
Even if the pace of price growth is no longer at the pace seen in 2022, when inflation rates reached levels not seen in decades, Bankrate’s Kates said consumers are still going to be left smarting.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 11 June 2025
This news should help soothe General Hospital fans who are still smarting over the reveal that Jonathan Jackson is leaving Port Charles.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 6 June 2025
Noun
Whether Danielson makes the team out of camp or not, his blend of size, skating, smarts and skill gives him the potential to play in the top six and complement Detroit’s top players.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Finding his family under threat from a pair of psychotic local gangsters, Roman must use both his stock-market smarts and his family’s crematorium to curry favor with, and finally overcome, his enemies.
—Vulture Editors, Vulture, 8 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for smart
Cite this Entry
“Smart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smart. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
smart
1 of 4 verb1
: to cause or feel a sharp stinging pain
2
: to feel mental distress (as regret, resentment, or embarrassment)
smart
2 of 4 adjective1
: causing a sharp stinging sensation
2
: marked by forceful activity or vigorous strength
3
: brisk sense 1, spirited
a smart pace
6
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 conjunctiva—H. G. Armstrong
H. G. Armstrong
also
: to feel or have such a pain
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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