smarting

IPA/smɑːt/
KK[smˈɑrtɪŋ]IPA/smɑːrt/

smarting — verb

  • smartingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • smartings3rd person singular
  • smartinging-ing form
  • smartingedpast simple

1. if a part of your body is smarting, it gives you a sudden sharp burning feeling,

1.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

if a part of your body is smarting, it gives you a sudden sharp burning feeling, often from a cut, a slap, or something getting into it.

Example

Rohan's eyes were smarting from the thick smoke in the kitchen.

smarting from [cause that irritates the body]

The cold wind left Sofie's cheeks smarting as she walked to school.

[body part] + smarting after exposure

Common collocations
  • eyes smarting
  • smarting from smoke
  • skin smarting
Synonyms
  • sting

    very close in meaning; 'sting' is more common in everyday speech

  • burn

    stronger and more lasting; smarting is sharp but usually brief

  • tingle

    milder, often pleasant or numb; smarting always hurts

Grammar Patterns

[body part] + be smarting

smarting from [cause]

Usage Note

Subject is usually a body part (eyes, skin, hand) or the cause is given with 'from'. Distinguish from sense 2: this is real physical pain, not hurt feelings.

Common Mistakes

My back is smarting me.
My back is smarting.
this sense is intransitive; it does not take an object.

2. to still feel hurt, angry, or ashamed after you have failed at something or been

2.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

to still feel hurt, angry, or ashamed after you have failed at something or been strongly criticised.

Example

Bilal was still smarting from the rude comments his coach made after the match.

smarting from [criticism]

The team kept smarting over their loss to a much weaker side.

smarting over [a defeat]

Common collocations
  • still smarting
  • smarting from criticism
  • smarting over a defeat
Synonyms
  • sting

    criticism can 'sting'; smarting describes the lasting ache afterwards

  • brood

    brood is quiet and inward; smarting carries more raw hurt and anger

  • wince

    a quick visible reaction; smarting is a feeling that lingers

Grammar Patterns

smarting from [criticism/defeat]

still smarting over [event]

Usage Note

Frequently used with 'still' and followed by 'from' or 'over' naming the failure or criticism. Distinguish from sense 1: the pain here is emotional, not a feeling in the body.

Common Mistakes

He was smarting the bad review.
He was smarting from the bad review.
name the cause with 'from' or 'over', not as a direct object.

smarting — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe physical pain, but the feeling and timing differ. 'Smart' (here as 'smarting') is a sharp, sudden surface pain, often from a cut, a slap, or smoke in the eyes; it is usually short-lived and stays near the skin. 'Sting' is the most common everyday choice and overlaps heavily with 'smart', but it suggests a quick prick, as from an insect or a nettle. 'Burn' is hotter and longer-lasting, and points to heat or chemicals rather than a single sharp blow. 'Throb' is different again: it is a deep, steady, beating pain, often from a bruise or a headache, not the sharp surface feeling of smarting. For example, smoke makes your eyes smart, a wasp makes your hand sting, hot soup burns your tongue, and a hammered thumb throbs.

smart ↗sting ↗burn ↗throb ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • still smarting

Phrases

  • eyes smarting from smoke

Prepositions

  • smarting from
  • smarting over

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

'Smart' comes from an Old English verb meaning 'to feel or cause sharp pain', related to similar words in old German and Dutch. The painful meaning is the oldest one; the familiar sense of 'clever' grew much later, from the idea of a sharp, quick mind. 'Smarting' is simply the present-participle form, used both as a verb and as a noun for the sharp feeling itself.