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

The challenge of aerodynamic darts which will separate cleanly tumbling at Mach 10, then spread out to evenly blanket an area below is not trivial. —David Hambling, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024

There Darnold was, dropping back, planting his back foot and throwing darts over the middle of the field. —Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024

Verb

Video posted to social media on Tuesday shows the bright, fast-moving fireball darting through the sky before dissipating. —Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 3 Dec. 2024

Shuffling feet, frowns or darting eyes signal discomfort and anxiety. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 1 Dec. 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