smart
verb · adjective · noun
Simple meaning
To feel a pungent pain of mind.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
smahrtIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈsmɑɹt
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
verb
intransitive
To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; to be punished severely; to feel the sting of evil.
transitive
To cause a smart or sting in.
intransitive
To hurt or sting.
Be the source of pain
adjective
Exhibiting social ability or cleverness.
often in combination
Equipped with intelligent behaviour (digital/computer technology).
Good-looking; well dressed; fine; fashionable.
Cleverly shrewd and humorous in a way that may be rude and disrespectful.
Sudden and intense.
Causing sharp pain; stinging.
noun
A sharp, quick, lively pain; a sting.
Mental pain or suffering; grief; affliction.
Experienced, well-informed investors, gamblers, etc. considered as a group.
Acronym of International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A2 · Elementary
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Everyday English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; to be punished severely; to feel the sting of evil.
Used this way, smart is a reasonably familiar word carrying real weight of difficulty or hurt. It lands hard, so it overstates anything mild. It turns up most in personal or emotional discussion and literature or storytelling contexts.
- Emotional tone
- Strongly negative
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Very strong
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Strongly negative / painful
- Usage feel
- Everyday but emotionally strong
Where it naturally appears
- Personal/emotional discussion
- Literature/storytelling
Usage note
Smart is emotionally heavy: it suggests deep or lasting feeling, not a passing mood, so it can overstate a small reaction.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use smart
- “She made a smart decision to save her money.”verb
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Relationships
Similar in idea, different in strength, tone or register.
Stronger
- brilliant , Exceptional intelligence.
Softer
- clever , Quick-thinking rather than deeply learned.
More formal
- intelligent , Neutral, formal register.
More casual
- sharp , Informal: quick and perceptive.
Opposite
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Money bet or invested by experienced gamblers or investors (especially if they have inside information).
The fashionable elite.
A plastic card containing a microprocessor that enables the holder to perform operations requiring data that is stored in the microprocessor.
A bomb that can be guided (by a laser beam or radio) to its target.
An upstart who makes conceited, sardonic, insolent comments.
A shrewd ability to survive in a dangerous urban environment.
Related words
Connected by subject or meaning, not by word formation.
Make neat, smart, or trim.
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What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Related Learning
Guides that use this word in context.
Better Words
Better Words for “Smart”
“Smart” covers many different kinds of mental ability. Learn when to use intelligent, clever, brilliant, perceptive, astute, sharp, wise and more.
Vocabulary
Words That Sound Smart but Are Often Used Wrong
Ten sophisticated words people commonly misuse, what they actually mean, correct examples, and simple ways to remember the difference.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.