Smart

UK: /ˈsmɑːt/ US: /smɑrt/ ,(smärt)

Inflections of 'smart' (adj):

smarter

adj comparative

smartest

adj superlative

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Smart / smɑːt/ noun

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/   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. 

3. 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.
4. shrewd or sharp, as a person in dealing with others:
   a smart campaigner.
5. clever or witty, as a speaker or speech.
6. neat or trim in appearance, as a person or garment;
   spruce:
   a very smart outfit.
7. socially elegant;
   sophisticated or fashionable:
   the smart crowd.
8. saucy;
   pert:
   Keep your smart remarks to yourself.
9. brisk or vigorous:
   to walk with smart steps.
10. sharply severe, as a blow;
    sharp or keen:
    a smart pain; a smart slap on the arm.
11. equipped with, using, or containing electronic control devices:
    [often before a noun] smart bombs.
12. Computing intelligent (def. 3).

adv. 

13. in a smart manner;
    smartly.

n. 

14. [countable* usually: a + ~] a sharp local pain.
15. 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), 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. 

6. to cause a sharp pain to or in.

adj. 

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

adv. 

20. in a smart manner;
    smartly.

n. 

21. a sharp local pain, usually superficial, as from a wound, blow, or sting.
22. keen mental suffering, as from wounded feelings, affliction, grievous loss, etc.
23. 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. 
Synonyms

• 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.

Antonyms

• 8. stupid.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

smart / smɑːt/ adjective

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

verb (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

noun

1. a stinging pain or feeling

adverb

1. in a smart manner

Etymology: Old English smeortan; related to Old High German smerzan, Latin mordēre to bite, Greek smerdnos terrible

ˈsmartly adverb

ˈsmartness noun