# smart

/ˈsmɑɹt/ (US) · /smˈɑːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/smart
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. intelligent

adjective · CEFR A1

intelligent or clever; able to learn and understand things quickly.

For teachers: possessing or showing a high degree of mental ability or intelligence.

- She is the smartest student in our mathematics class.
- The recruitment team is looking for smart, adaptable candidates who can navigate the complexities of the modern tech landscape.

### 2. well-dressed

adjective · CEFR B1 · British English

wearing clean, tidy, and fashionable clothes.

For teachers: neat, trim, and stylish in appearance or dress; often implies a formal or professional register.

- You look very smart in that new suit you bought for the wedding.
- The restaurant maintains a strict dress code, requiring guests to appear in smart attire for the evening service.

### 3. technologically advanced

adjective · CEFR B1

describes a device that uses computers or the internet to work in an 'intelligent' way.

For teachers: referring to devices or systems that incorporate diagnostic or interactive computer technology.

- We installed a smart thermostat to help save money on our heating bills.
- The integration of smart technology into urban infrastructure allows for real-time monitoring of traffic patterns and energy consumption.

### 4. disrespectful

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

showing intelligence in a way that is rude or lacks respect.

For teachers: characterised by a sharp, often insolent or sarcastic wit.

- Don't get smart with me or you will be in trouble.
- The teenager's smart remarks during the assembly resulted in a week of detention for disruptive behaviour.

### 5. to sting

verb · CEFR B2

to feel a sharp, stinging pain.

For teachers: to experience or cause a sharp, pungent physical or emotional pain.

- My eyes were smarting from the smoke of the campfire.
- The team was still smarting from their unexpected defeat in the final minutes of the championship match.

### 6. stinging pain

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a sharp, stinging physical or mental pain.

For teachers: a quick, lively, or pungent pain; often used figuratively for mental distress.

- He felt the smart of the cold wind against his cheeks.
- Years later, she could still feel the smart of the rejection she suffered during her early career.

## Examples

- You look very smart in your new suit.
- The company is looking for smart, motivated graduates who can solve complex problems under pressure.
- While his academic record was only average, he possessed a smart, intuitive grasp of market trends that allowed him to outmanoeuvre more experienced competitors.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.