Word Adverb
smartly
adv.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈsmɑɹtɫi/ UK /smˈɑːtli/ smart·ly
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.”
Etymology
From Middle English smertly; equivalent to smart + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Origin Middle English smertly
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated