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Definition of smarten

smarten

/ˈsmɑːr.tən/
smar · ten
Adverb:smartly
•
Adjective:smart
•
Past Simple:smartened
•
Past Participle:smartened
•
Present Participle:smartening
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smarten Lexical Profile

smarten Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To make or become neater, cleaner, or more stylish in appearance (often used with 'up').

Example

"A fresh coat of paint will really smarten the living room."

2

North American To make or become wiser, more alert, or more intelligent (often used with 'up').

Example

"He needs to smarten up if he wants to pass the final exam."

3

To make more brisk, lively, or vigorous, such as one's pace.

Example

"The hikers had to smarten their pace to reach the cabin before sunset."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for smarten
Antonyms
View all antonyms for smarten

• Rhymes for smarten

• Nearby Words

smartass
smartassed
smartcard
smarten
smartie
smartish
smartly

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Smarten. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/smarten
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