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
Synonyms
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
Paul Tassi, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
In response, social media companies’ algorithms to detect drug-selling behavior are getting smarter and are aggregating images and emojis, Fuller says.
—Mattha Busby, WIRED, 17 Dec. 2024
Samuel Burke, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
Ohio State ran it 11 straight times, an offensive line smarting after a dismal performance in a lethargic win over Nebraska last week responding by shoving the Nittany Lions backward with every snap.
—Will Graves, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2024
Steven Levy, WIRED, 21 Nov. 2024
The Remove tool now has AI smarts and works surprisingly well, as evident from the photo above.
—PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
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
This includes smart TVs, non-gaming laptops, phones, tablets or third party gaming devices.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
In response, social media companies’ algorithms to detect drug-selling behavior are getting smarter and are aggregating images and emojis, Fuller says.
—Mattha Busby, WIRED, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
Value meals helped turn around McDonald’s U.S. sales in the third quarter with customers smarting from higher prices all over, but that recovery could be dented in the final months of the year by an E. coli outbreak tied to the company’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers.
—Samuel Burke, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
Ohio State ran it 11 straight times, an offensive line smarting after a dismal performance in a lethargic win over Nebraska last week responding by shoving the Nittany Lions backward with every snap.
—Will Graves, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
Nadella had spent 22 years pulling himself up the ranks with his smarts and drive.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 21 Nov. 2024
The Remove tool now has AI smarts and works surprisingly well, as evident from the photo above.
—PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
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
Articles Related to smart
Dictionary Entries Near smart
Cite this Entry
“Smart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smart. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
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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