Word
smartly
Phoneticssmart·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsmɑɹtɫi/
UK/smˈɑːtli/
Definition
adv. in a way that shows you are clever, well-educated, or have good taste. You use this to describe someone who acts with intelligence or style.
adv. in a manner that demonstrates intelligence, good taste, or a high level of education. Often used to describe the appearance or the manner of a person's actions.
Examples
“She dressed smartly for the interview.”
“The students answered the difficult questions smartly, showing they had studied the material thoroughly.”
“He spoke smartly about the economic crisis, balancing technical accuracy with a level of clarity that made the complex data accessible to the general public.”
Examples
simple
“She dressed smartly for the interview.”
contextual
“The students answered the difficult questions smartly, showing they had studied the material thoroughly.”
complex
“He spoke smartly about the economic crisis, balancing technical accuracy with a level of clarity that made the complex data accessible to the general public.”
Real-World Examples
“As for the dress code, you need to come dressed smartly and it's taken very seriously.” Etymology
From Middle English smertly; equivalent to smart + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/smartly