adverb
smartly
SMAHT-lee
Smartly (adverb) means In a neat, fashionable manner. Example: “She was smartly dressed for the ceremony.”
adverb
1
In a neat, fashionable manner.
"She was smartly dressed for the ceremony."
2
Quickly and briskly.
"The soldiers marched smartly across the parade ground."
How to use smartly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNeatly, briskly, or intelligently, depending on context.
Common pairings
smartly dressed
walk smartly
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more smartly
- Superlative
- most smartly
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She was _____ dressed for the ceremony.
Etymology
From Middle English "smertly," formed from "smart" plus the adverb ending "-ly."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for smartly
See all rhymes for smartly →Frequently asked questions
What does “smartly” mean?
The word “smartly” means in a neat, fashionable manner. In plain terms, neatly, briskly, or intelligently, depending on context.
How do you pronounce “smartly”?
“Smartly” is pronounced SMAHT-lee (/ˈsmɑː(ɹ)tli/ in IPA).
How do you use “smartly” in a sentence?
Here is “smartly” used in a sentence: “She was smartly dressed for the ceremony.”
What part of speech is “smartly”?
“Smartly” is an adverb.
Where does the word “smartly” come from?
The word “smartly” comes from Middle English. From Middle English "smertly," formed from "smart" plus the adverb ending "-ly.".
How many meanings does “smartly” have?
“Smartly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a neat, fashionable manner.
