dart

1 of 2

noun

ˈdärt 

1

a

archaic : a light spear

b(1)

: a small missile usually with a pointed shaft at one end and feathers at the other

(2)

darts plural in form but singular in construction : a game in which darts are thrown at a target

2

a

: something projected with sudden speed

especially : a sharp glance

b

: something causing sudden pain or distress

darts of sarcasm

3

: something with a slender pointed shaft or outline

specifically : a stitched tapering fold in a garment

4

: a quick movement

made a dart for the door

dart

2 of 2

verb

darted; darting; darts

transitive verb

1

: to throw with a sudden movement

2

: to thrust or move with sudden speed

3

: to shoot with a dart containing a usually tranquilizing drug

intransitive verb

: to move suddenly or rapidly

darted across the street

Synonyms

Noun

• affront
• barb
• brickbat
• cut
• dig
• dis [slang]
• diss
• epithet
• gird
• indignity
• insult
• name
• offense
• offence
• outrage
• personality
• poke
• put-down
• sarcasm
• slap
• slight
• slur

Verb

• dance
• flick
• flicker
• flirt
• flit
• flitter
• flutter
• zip

Examples of dart in a Sentence

Noun

He was hit with a poisoned dart.

Her favorite game is darts.

a quick dart to the left

Verb

We saw a deer dart across the road.

The frog darted its tongue at a fly.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Construction will begin soon on four indoor and two outdoor pickleball courts at the 35,000-square-foot athleisure destination, along with golf simulators, ping pong, pool tables, shuffleboard, cornhole and darts. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2024

Globe Editor-in-Chief Katy Grimes took Flora to task for having a pool table and possibly a dart board in his office, as well as spending tens of thousands of dollars from a ballot initiative committee to fund raise at Churchill Downs. —Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German tart dart, Old English daroth

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1573, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing dart

• dart a glance/look at
• egg and dart
• poison dart frog

Kids Definition

dart

1 of 2 noun

ˈdärt 

1

a

: a small pointed object that is meant to be thrown

b

plural : a game in which darts are thrown at a target

2

: something causing a sudden pain

3

: a stitched fold in a garment

4

: a quick movement

made a dart for the door

dart

2 of 2 verb

: to move or shoot out suddenly and quickly

the toad darted its tongue at a fly

darted through the traffic