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
Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Yamaha started with their largest offshore outboard, the XTO 450, and made some smart changes to handle hydrogen.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Andrew Rice, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
While those defeats against Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain both smarted, their financial ramifications differ wildly.
—Chris Weatherspoon, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Some claim the expression refers to the smartest based on straight-ahead smarts.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 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
But smart leaders know that not all bets are created equal—and not all uncertainty plays by the same rules.
—Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Yamaha started with their largest offshore outboard, the XTO 450, and made some smart changes to handle hydrogen.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
Sir Ben Ainslie is smarting from a public sporting divorce from Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the British billionaire and part-owner of Manchester United.
—Andrew Rice, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
While those defeats against Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain both smarted, their financial ramifications differ wildly.
—Chris Weatherspoon, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
The tone had been set, the Lakers playing a big game against Golden State without the necessary rhythm, without the necessary toughness, without the necessary smarts.
—Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Some claim the expression refers to the smartest based on straight-ahead smarts.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 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 27 Apr. 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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