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
Victims of the gold bar and related scams can be otherwise perfectly smart, Custer said. Dan Morse, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024 Be smart, tuned in and ready to take advantage of whatever comes your way. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for smart 

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 28 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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