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Smart

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈsmɑːt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/smɑrt/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(smärt)

Inflections of 'smart' (adj):
smarter
adj comparative
smartest
adj superlative

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Smart /smɑːt/ n
  1. Christopher. 1722–71, British poet, author of A Song to David (1763) and Jubilate Agno (written 1758–63, published 1939). He was confined (1756–63) for religious mania and died in a debtors' prison
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
smart /smɑrt/USA pronunciation   v., -er, -est, adv., n. 
v. [no object]
  1. to be a cause of sharp, stinging pain:The cut on his arm still smarted.
  2. to suffer sharply, as from wounded feelings:still smarting from the insults.

adj. 
  1. having or showing quick intelligence or ready mental capability:a smart student.[It + be + ~ + to + verb]It wasn't very smart of you to try to cheat.
  2. shrewd or sharp, as a person in dealing with others:a smart campaigner.
  3. clever or witty, as a speaker or speech.
  4. neat or trim in appearance, as a person or garment;
    spruce:a very smart outfit.
  5. socially elegant;
    sophisticated or fashionable:the smart crowd.
  6. saucy;
    pert:Keep your smart remarks to yourself.
  7. brisk or vigorous:to walk with smart steps.
  8. sharply severe, as a blow;
    sharp or keen:a smart pain; a smart slap on the arm.
  9. equipped with, using, or containing electronic control devices:[often before a noun]smart bombs.
  10. Computingintelligent (def. 3).

adv. 
  1. in a smart manner;
    smartly.

n. 
  1. [countable;
    usually: a + ~]     a sharp local pain.
  2. smarts, [uncountable* used with a singular verb][Informal.]intelligence;
    common sense:has a lot of smarts.
smart•ly, adv.: to dress smartly; She rapped smartly on the door.
smart•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
smart  (smärt),USA pronunciation v., adj., -er, -est, adv., n. 
v.i. 
  1. to be a source of sharp, local, and usually superficial pain, as a wound.
  2. to be the cause of a sharp, stinging pain, as an irritating application, a blow, etc.
  3. to feel a sharp, stinging pain, as in a wound.
  4. to suffer keenly from wounded feelings:She smarted under their criticism.
  5. to feel shame or remorse or to suffer in punishment or in return for something.

v.t. 
  1. to cause a sharp pain to or in.

adj. 
  1. quick or prompt in action, as persons.
  2. having or showing quick intelligence or ready mental capability:a smart student.
  3. shrewd or sharp, as a person in dealing with others or as in business dealings:a smart businessman.
  4. clever, witty, or readily effective, as a speaker, speech, rejoinder, etc.
  5. dashingly or impressively neat or trim in appearance, as persons, dress, etc.
  6. socially elegant;
    sophisticated or fashionable:the smart crowd.
  7. saucy;
    pert:smart remarks.
  8. sharply brisk, vigorous, or active:to walk with smart steps.
  9. sharply severe, as a blow, stroke, etc.
  10. sharp or keen:a smart pain.
  11. [Informal.]equipped with, using, or containing electronic control devices, as computer systems, microprocessors, or missiles:a smart phone; a smart copier.
  12. Computingintelligent (def. 4).
  13. [Older Use.]considerable;
    fairly large.

adv. 
  1. in a smart manner;
    smartly.

n. 
  1. a sharp local pain, usually superficial, as from a wound, blow, or sting.
  2. keen mental suffering, as from wounded feelings, affliction, grievous loss, etc.
  3. smarts, [Slang.]intelligence;
    common sense:He never had the smarts to use his opportunities.
  • bef. 1050; (verb, verbal) Middle English smerten, Old English -smeortan (only in the compound fyrsmeortende painful like fire), cognate with Old High German smerzan (German schmerzen); (adjective, adjectival) Middle English smerte, smart quick, prompt, sharp, origin, originally, biting, smarting, late Old English smearte, akin to the verb, verbal; (adverb, adverbial and noun, nominal) Middle English smerte, derivative of the adjective, adjectival
smart′ing•ly, adv. 
smart′ly, adv. 
smart′ness, n. 
    1. pain, hurt, sting. 7. lively, nimble, agile, alert, active. 8. bright, sharp, expert, adroit. 9. cunning, adept. 11. spruce; pretentious, showy. 12. chic. 14. energetic. 16. stinging, poignant, penetrating.
    8. stupid.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
smart /smɑːt/ adj
  1. astute, as in business; clever or bright
  2. quick, witty, and often impertinent in speech: a smart talker
  3. fashionable; chic: a smart hotel
  4. well-kept; neat
  5. causing a sharp stinging pain
  6. vigorous or brisk
  7. (of systems) operating as if by human intelligence by using automatic computer control
  8. (of a projectile or bomb) containing a device that allows it to be guided to its target
 vb (mainly intr)
  1. to feel, cause, or be the source of a sharp stinging physical pain or keen mental distress: a nettle sting smarts, he smarted under their abuse
  2. (often followed by for) to suffer a harsh penalty
 n
  1. a stinging pain or feeling
 adv
  1. in a smart manner
Etymology: Old English smeortan; related to Old High German smerzan, Latin mordēre to bite, Greek smerdnos terribleˈsmartly adv ˈsmartness n
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'Smart' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
bite - burn - clever - cookie - datacard - fine - fly - glamorous - hella - intelligent card - it's - jaunty - larney - laser card - look - Mencken - natty - organizer - posh - sassy - sharp - smart aleck - smart card - smart dust - smart money - smart set - snappy - snug - spanking - spiffy - spiv - spruce - spruce up - stylish - swish - teargas - tog - acute - alec - anger - astute - candle - chic - classy - cracking - dapper - dinky - fashionable - fillip - flashy

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