verb
smarten
SMAHTN
Smarten (verb) means to make someone or something look neater or more presentable. Example: “He smartened himself up before the job interview.”
verb
1
To make someone or something look neater or more presentable.
"He smartened himself up before the job interview."
2
To add digital or computerized features to something.
"The company plans to smarten its entire product line with app connectivity."
How to use smarten
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo tidy up or upgrade something to be smarter or neater.
Common pairings
smarten up
smarten oneself up
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- smartens
- Past tense
- smartened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ himself up before the job interview.
Etymology
Formed from "smart" plus the verb-forming suffix "-en," meaning "to make smart."
Rhymes for smarten
See all rhymes for smarten →Frequently asked questions
What does “smarten” mean?
The word “smarten” means to make someone or something look neater or more presentable. In plain terms, to tidy up or upgrade something to be smarter or neater.
How do you pronounce “smarten”?
“Smarten” is pronounced SMAHTN (/ˈsmɑːt(ə)n/ in IPA).
How do you use “smarten” in a sentence?
Here is “smarten” used in a sentence: “He smartened himself up before the job interview.”
What part of speech is “smarten”?
“Smarten” is a verb.
How many meanings does “smarten” have?
“Smarten” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make someone or something look neater or more presentable.
