smart
smart — adjective
- smartpositive
- smartercomparative
- smartestsuperlative
1. used to describe a person who looks neat, well-groomed, and dressed in a fashion
used to describe a person who looks neat, well-groomed, and dressed in a fashionable or formal way — like wearing a pressed suit and polished shoes for a business meeting.
Omar put on a smart grey suit for the job interview.
collocation: smart suit / smart outfit
The hotel staff all wear smart navy uniforms.
Yumi looked very smart in her new black dress at the wedding.
pattern: look smart in + clothing
The boutique had a smart new window display that caught everyone's eye.
- smart suit
- smart uniform
- smart dress
- smart outfit
- look smart
- feel smart
- neat
focuses on tidiness rather than style
- stylish
emphasises fashionability more than neatness
- well-dressed
more literal, less idiomatic
- scruffy
untidy or shabby in appearance
Usage Note
Common in British English for well-dressed appearance; American English often prefers 'sharp' or 'dressed up'.
Common Mistakes
2. describes a place, restaurant, club, or event that attracts wealthy, fashion-con
describes a place, restaurant, club, or event that attracts wealthy, fashion-conscious, or sophisticated people.
They booked a table at one of the smartest restaurants in London.
superlative: the smartest + place noun
The gallery opening was a very smart affair with champagne and celebrities.
Dylan moved into a smart neighbourhood in north London with tree-lined streets.
collocation: smart neighbourhood / smart area
The yacht club is one of the smartest members-only venues in the city.
superlative: one of the smartest [place nouns]
- smart restaurant
- smart hotel
- smart area
- smart party
- fashionable
broader, can describe people or places; less class-focused
- exclusive
emphasises restricted access rather than style
- posh
informal British term for upper-class places
Usage Note
Almost always used before a noun. Describes the social standing of the venue, not its physical tidiness.
3. having a quick, active mind; able to learn new things easily and solve problems
having a quick, active mind; able to learn new things easily and solve problems well.
Anjali is one of the smartest students in her physics class.
superlative: one of the smartest
It was a smart move to save money before the prices went up.
collocation: smart move
Chidi asked a very smart question during the lecture.
You do not have to be book-smart to be smart about people.
contrastive pattern: book-smart vs smart about
- smart person
- smart idea
- smart move
- smart question
- smart decision
- clever
similar but can imply tricky or cunning; more British
- intelligent
more formal, suggests higher intellectual capacity
- bright
more informal, often used for children
Usage Note
Can describe either a person's general intelligence or a specific decision/action. 'Smart' in this sense is less formal than 'intelligent' and more natural in everyday speech.
Common Mistakes
4. done or happening with brisk energy and noticeable force, often describing a phy
done or happening with brisk energy and noticeable force, often describing a physical action like a blow or a movement.
He gave the ball a smart tap with his racquet.
collocation: smart tap / smart blow
The horse set off at a smart trot across the field.
The sergeant demanded the soldiers march at a smart pace.
collocation: smart pace
The boxer landed a smart blow to his opponent's jaw.
collocation: smart blow
- smart blow
- smart pace
- smart trot
- smart rap
- slow
the opposite in pace
Usage Note
Typically modifies nouns describing physical actions (blow, rap, pace, trot). Not used for emotional or mental speed.
5. describes a machine, device, or weapon that contains a computer chip or software
describes a machine, device, or weapon that contains a computer chip or software so it can perform tasks automatically or respond to changing conditions.
Indra bought a smart thermostat that adjusts the temperature when nobody is home.
example of autonomous function
Many new cars come with smart sensors that help you park.
The military uses smart bombs guided by satellite signals.
domain: military smart weapons
Sofia paired her smartphone with the smart speaker to control the home lighting.
compound nouns: smartphone, smart speaker, smart home
- smartphone
- smartwatch
- smart TV
- smart home
- smart device
- smart technology
- intelligent
more formal; used in technical writing ('intelligent system')
- automated
focuses on lack of human control, not decision-making ability
- dumb
informal; describes a device without computer control ('dumb phone')
Usage Note
Extremely productive in compound nouns: smartphone, smartwatch, smart TV, smart home, smart grid. The device's 'intelligence' comes from its programming, not its own thinking.
6. used to describe a motorway or major road fitted with computer-controlled system
used to describe a motorway or major road fitted with computer-controlled systems that monitor traffic flow, adjust speed limits, and display warnings to drivers automatically.
The new smart motorway uses cameras to detect congestion and lower the speed limit.
pattern: smart motorway + uses [technology] to [function]
Drivers were confused by the signs on the smart highway near Manchester.
The smart motorway automatically closes lanes when emergency vehicles need to get through.
automatic response of smart road systems
Variable speed limits on the smart road reduced accidents by nearly thirty percent.
resultative pattern: smart road reduced [metric]
- smart motorway
- smart highway
- smart road
Usage Note
Primarily used in British English as 'smart motorway'. The term is a specialised extension of the SMART DEVICE sense.
7. tending to say things that are funny but disrespectful, often in a way that show
tending to say things that are funny but disrespectful, often in a way that shows a lack of proper respect toward someone in authority.
The student gave a smart answer and the teacher sent him to the office.
collocation: smart answer / smart remark
Alessia regretted her smart comment as soon as she saw her grandmother's hurt face.
emotional consequence of a smart remark
Don't get smart with me, young man — go clean your room.
fixed expression: get smart with someone
Zuri's smart mouth got her into trouble with the school principal again.
collocation: smart mouth
- smart answer
- smart remark
- smart mouth
- get smart with
- cheeky
British; less harsh, can be playful
- sassy
American; can be approving in some contexts
- impertinent
formal and strongly disapproving
- respectful
showing proper deference
Usage Note
Often used in the fixed phrase 'get smart with someone', meaning to speak disrespectfully. Strongly disapproving.
Common Mistakes
8. producing a sudden, biting physical feeling, like the sting that comes when an o
producing a sudden, biting physical feeling, like the sting that comes when an open wound meets antiseptic.
He felt a smart sting on his leg where the nettle had brushed against it.
physical stinging sensation
The soap stung the smart cut on her finger.
He wrapped a cloth around the smart wound on his arm before going to the clinic.
collocation: smart wound
Talia's eyes were red and smart after hours of swimming in the chlorinated pool.
pattern: smart + body part after [cause]
- smart sting
- smart pain
- smart cut
Usage Note
Less common in modern English; the verb form is used more frequently than this adjective sense.
smart — adverb
1. in a way that shows intelligence, cleverness, or effective thinking; often with
in a way that shows intelligence, cleverness, or effective thinking; often with a sense of being well-planned.
Jude smartly invested his bonus in a mix of stocks and bonds.
adverb modifying a financial action
She smartly avoided the question by changing the subject.
The architect smartly positioned the windows to catch the afternoon light.
adverb modifying a creative/professional action
Padma smartly negotiated a lower rent by offering to sign a two-year lease.
adverb + past-tense verb showing strategic action
- smartly dressed
- smartly invested
- smartly designed
- foolishly
acting without good judgement
Usage Note
Often implies strategic or tactical cleverness — the person did something not just intelligently but with foresight or social awareness.
smart — noun
1. a sudden sharp stinging feeling on the skin or in a part of the body, like the s
a sudden sharp stinging feeling on the skin or in a part of the body, like the sensation from a minor burn or cut.
The smart of the antiseptic made Tamar wince as she cleaned the wound.
collocation: smart of [something]
He could still feel the smart of the sunburn on his shoulders the next morning.
The smart of the bee sting faded after Jisoo applied ice to the spot.
pattern: the smart of [cause]
Paper cuts cause a surprising smart that lasts longer than you would expect.
- smart of
- feel the smart
- sting
more common in everyday speech; sharper and more immediate
Usage Note
Countable or uncountable. More common in literary or descriptive writing than in everyday conversation — speakers usually say 'sting' or 'burn' instead.
2. a painful feeling of sadness, regret, or embarrassment that stays with you after
a painful feeling of sadness, regret, or embarrassment that stays with you after something upsetting has happened.
Years later, the smart of losing the championship still lingered in his mind.
metaphorical extension of physical pain
She felt the smart of his unkind words long after the argument ended.
Kian tried to hide the smart of being rejected from his dream university.
pattern: the smart of being [past participle]
There was a visible smart in her eyes when the award went to someone else.
collocation: smart in [body part showing emotion]
- smart of
- the smart of
Usage Note
Chiefly literary or formal. In everyday English, speakers are more likely to say 'the pain of' or 'the hurt of'.
3. a person's natural mental ability and quickness of mind; the quality of being in
a person's natural mental ability and quickness of mind; the quality of being intelligent.
Beatriz has the smart to handle any negotiation the company throws at her.
uncountable noun = intelligence
Don't underestimate his smart — he knows exactly what he is doing.
Street smarts can be more useful in life than the knowledge you get from books.
compound: street smarts
Iris relied on her business smarts to turn the small shop into a successful chain.
compound: business smarts + possessive
- have the smart to
- street smarts
- intelligence
the standard, neutral term; more formal
- brains
informal, plural; 'She has the brains for the job'
Usage Note
Rare in modern English. More commonly used as an adjective ('he's smart') or in the plural 'smarts' (colloquial: 'street smarts').
smart — verb
- smartpresent simple I / you / we / they
- smarts3rd person singular
- smarting-ing form
- smartedpast simple
1. if a part of your body smarts, it produces a sudden, biting sensation — for inst
if a part of your body smarts, it produces a sudden, biting sensation — for instance, the way your skin reacts after a sharp slap or when a scrape touches soap.
Her eyes smarted from the smoke of the campfire.
intransitive: [body part] smarts from [cause]
Ramón's hand smarted after he accidentally touched the hot pan.
The cut on Sophia's finger was still smarting even after she put a bandage on it.
progressive form: was still smarting
Antonia's cheeks smarted from the cold wind during her morning run.
- smart from
- smart with
- eyes smart
- skin smarts
Usage Note
Intransitive — the body part that hurts is the subject, or 'from/with' introduces the cause. Not used transitively ('*He smarted his knee').
Common Mistakes
2. to feel a lingering sense of hurt, embarrassment, or resentment after being crit
to feel a lingering sense of hurt, embarrassment, or resentment after being criticised, insulted, or experiencing failure.
Élise was still smarting from the criticism her boss gave her in the meeting.
extended metaphor: smarting from criticism
The team smarted after losing the final match by a single goal.
intransitive: [person/group] smarts after [event]
He smarted at the memory of being laughed at in front of the whole class.
pattern: smart at the memory of [event]
Jessica was still smarting over the rejection letter from the publishing house.
pattern: smarting over [setback]
- smart from
- smart at
- smart over
- smarting from criticism
- smarting from defeat
Usage Note
Frequently followed by 'from', 'at', or 'over'. The feeling is usually not momentary — it suggests ongoing or recurrent emotional pain.