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
David Phelan, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
He’s evaluated everything from TVs and soundbars to smart gadgets and wearables, ...
—Parker Hall, Wired News, 21 June 2025
Alison Herman, Variety, 30 May 2025
Their services are also marketed for those smarting from sunburns, down with migraines or recovering from a marathon run.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2025
Josh Robbins, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Exhibits include art smarts, puppet place, edible garden, discovery station, music makers and let’s move.
—Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 9 June 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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Right now, Meta pretty much owns the smart glasses space and these specs could help cement that leadership.
—David Phelan, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
He’s evaluated everything from TVs and soundbars to smart gadgets and wearables, ...
—Parker Hall, Wired News, 21 June 2025
Verb
Still smarting from the sudden end of her time as a late-night host and a subsequent non-compete that bars her from the stage for 18 months, stand-up Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) has taken her trusty collaborator Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) to Singapore.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 30 May 2025
Their services are also marketed for those smarting from sunburns, down with migraines or recovering from a marathon run.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
Ahead of the 2020 draft, in the height of the pandemic, Magic officials interviewed Bane over a video call and came away raving about his smarts and attitude.
—Josh Robbins, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Exhibits include art smarts, puppet place, edible garden, discovery station, music makers and let’s move.
—Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 9 June 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 2 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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