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smart

smart

1.9
Shows quick thinking and good understanding
  • adjective
  • /smɑrt/
translation icon : inteligente
  • These kids are smart.
  • smart enough
  • think smart
  • so smart

The sort of well, they're so smart they can't be that bad.

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Examples

  • The smart student quickly solved the complex math problem.

  • Is that a very smart thing to do?

  • I really wish my team was that smart and that creative.

  • You are all here because you are smart and you are brave.

  • Assuming that Black is a smart player, what should she do?

  • MI asks the question, in what ways are students smart, rather than, are they smart?

    Academic text (2008)
  • And you're a very smart, driven person.

  • He's just a tremendously smart guy and a great teacher.

  • She made a smart decision by studying for the exam ahead of time.

  • He is known for his smart ideas during team meetings.

Synonyms

brilliant
vssmart
949 3.7

Very clever and skilled at thinking or solving problems

is strong in ability but less extreme in degree
wise
vssmart
758 2.1

Showing good judgment from experience

refers to mental quickness and raw intelligence rather than judgment
clever
vssmart
573 1.7

Understands things quickly and finds smart solutions

is the broader term for general mental ability
intelligent
vssmart
507 3.4

Able to think, understand, and learn new things

is the more general, everyday term for the same mental ability
bright
vssmart
353 1.2

Quick to learn and understand new things

is the neutral general term for intelligence, not only learning speed
sharp
vssmart
152 3.3

Quick at noticing small details and understanding things

is broader, including general cleverness not only alertness
quick
vssmart
61 3.2

Able to understand and answer fast

refers to broad mental ability rather than mainly response speed
shrewd
vssmart
50 4.7

Good at judging situations and making smart business decisions

refers to general mental ability, not limited to practical judgment
brainy
vssmart
  • Informal
21 3.9

Very smart in a way that others notice

focuses on general mental ability rather than being impressive
super-smart
vssmart
5 4.1

Very intelligent and quick to solve problems

is the standard general word for mental ability
sharp as a tack
vssmart
  • Informal
5 6.7

Able to understand new things very quickly

covers intelligence broadly, not only speed of perception
smart as a whip
vssmart
  • Informal
5 7.0

Very quick to understand things and find answers

refers to overall mental ability not only speed or cleverness
quick-witted
vssmart
4 4.8

Able to think and give smart fast answers

describes overall intelligence rather than mainly fast response skill
brightish
vssmart
4.9

A little quick to understand new things but not very fast

is the stronger general intelligence term rather than mild ability

Antonyms

stupid
  • Offensive
1.0

Not intelligent and showing poor judgment

505 1.3

Not showing good sense and making unwise choices

367 3.7

Not knowing about something or how it works

Idioms

smart as a whip
  • Informal
5 7.0

Very quick to understand things and find answers

right smart
  • Informal
9.6

Fairly large in amount or degree

right smart
  • Informal
9.9

To a large degree

Compounds

smart bomb
  • Specialized
7 4.0

A bomb that can be guided to hit a specific target

smart aleck
  • Offensive
5 7.5

A person who acts as if they know everything and annoys others

smart money
  • Jargon
4 5.6

Money invested or bet by people believed to have expert knowledge

smart card
  • Specialized
3 3.7

A small plastic card with a chip that stores money or ID

smart money
  • Jargon
3 6.8

People believed to have expert knowledge or inside information about investments and bets

smart arse
  • Offensive
1 9.4

A person who says clever things to annoy or upset others

smart set
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A group of connected home devices like lights or speakers you control together

smart set
  • Archaic
1 8.2

A group of fashionable people in high society

smart money
  • Formal
8.4

Money a court gives to punish someone for doing something wrong

How Smart

brilliant
949 3.7
smart
1.9
clever
573 1.7
bright
353 1.2

Surface Forms

smart positive
smarter comparative
smartest superlative

Etymology

Smart comes from an old English word smeart meaning 'to sting' or 'hurt', and that idea of 'sharp' moved to the mind so that being 'sharp' meant being quick and clever. So we call someone smart when they think quickly.