smart
Word facts
Definition of Smart
To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; to be punished severely; to feel the sting of evil.
Example sentences
His cheek began to smart where the branch had caught him.
She tried not to let her words smart, but they stung all afternoon.
Using Smart well
A closer look at how smart is used — meaning in plain English, how close synonyms differ, and examples at different levels.
Showing quick intelligence or good judgment; also, neat and stylish in appearance.
Use 'smart' in everyday speech for someone quick-thinking or for a clever decision. In British English it also commonly means well-dressed or tidy, and in tech it labels devices with built-in intelligence.
Casual conversation, praise for decisions ('smart move'), technology ('smart phone', 'smart home'), and, especially in British English, describing sharp clothing or appearance.
'Smart' can also mean to sting or hurt ('the cut smarts'); and in British vs. American English it splits between 'well-dressed' and simply 'intelligent', so watch the intended sense.
- intelligent
- more formal and measured — describes real mental ability rather than snappy cleverness
- clever
- close, but can hint at quick trickiness or ingenuity more than deep intelligence
- sharp
- informal — stresses quick, alert perception, catching things fast
- shrewd
- emphasizes practical, self-interested judgment, especially in business or dealings
- bright
- warmer and gentler, often used of children or promising learners
- stupid
- blunt, harsh opposite of the intelligence sense
- foolish
- opposite of a smart decision — shows poor judgment
- dull
- milder — slow-witted rather than actively stupid
- scruffy
- opposite of the 'well-dressed' sense — untidy in appearance
- Beginner She is a smart student who always finishes her homework early.
- In writing Cutting the meeting to fifteen minutes was a smart move that saved the whole team hours each week.
- Advanced It was a smart, almost cynical piece of positioning: to look principled while quietly protecting the bottom line.
Two everyday senses share the word: a 'smart' mind and a 'smart' outfit — both suggest sharp and put-together.
Related words
Words closely connected to Smart in meaning or use:
Words that rhyme with Smart
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FAQ
Questions people ask
What does smart mean?
To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; to be punished severely; to feel the sting of evil. It is a verb.
How many syllables does smart have?
There is 1 syllable in smart — it is spoken as one beat: smart.
What part of speech is smart?
Smart works as a verb. As a verb, it describes an action or state.
What are synonyms for smart?
You can often swap smart for shrewd, impudent, sharp, astute, though each carries a slightly different shade of meaning.
How do you use smart in a sentence?
Example: "His cheek began to smart where the branch had caught him."