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 of dart

Noun

• insult
• sarcasm
• barb

Verb

• flit
• flutter
• dance
• flick
• fly
• 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 event, a change in pace from the foundation’s annual poker tournament, also included live karaoke, bowling, darts and a live auction that included autographed sports memorabilia. —Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026

This makes the lure dart, dive and rise erratically. —Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026

Verb

Stop by the hummingbird garden, where 14 species of petite, fairylike birds dart from plant to plant, sipping nectar from native blooms. —Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2026

There was the usual assemblage of male and female Anna’s and just a couple of the Allen’s darting out occasionally from the sanctuary of the nearby tree to drink nectar from the hanging feeders. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026

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

1580, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing dart

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

Rhymes for dart

• art
• cart
• carte
• chart
• fart
• haart
• mart
• part
• smart
• start
• tart
• apart

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