smartly

smartly — adverb

1. wearing stylish, neat clothes that give a polished, slightly formal appearance —

1.adverbB1
Definition

wearing stylish, neat clothes that give a polished, slightly formal appearance — often used for business, ceremonies, or professional settings.

Example

The hotel staff were all dressed smartly in dark suits and white gloves.

passive: be dressed + smartly in [clothing]

Élise chose a smartly tailored jacket for her first day at the law firm.

collocation: smartly tailored + [garment]

Common collocations
  • smartly dressed
  • smartly tailored
  • smartly uniformed
  • smartly turned out
Synonyms
  • stylishly

    Focused on fashion trends rather than neatness or formality

  • elegantly

    Suggests grace and timeless sophistication, often more formal than 'smartly'

  • neatly

    About tidiness and order rather than fashion or style

Antonyms
  • scruffily

    Suggests untidy or messy dress

  • casually

    Describes informal dress without the polished element

Grammar Patterns

smartly + past participle (smartly dressed, smartly tailored)

linking verb + smartly dressed

Usage Note

Frequently pairs with the past participles 'dressed' and 'tailored'. More common in British English than American English; in the US, 'well-dressed' or 'sharp' are often preferred in casual speech.

Common Mistakes

She looked smartly in a new dress.
She looked smart in a new dress.
'smartly' is the adverb, so it needs a verb like 'dressed'; with 'look' you use the adjective 'smart'.
He was smartly dressed in old jeans and a t-shirt.
He was smartly dressed in a blazer and tailored trousers.
'smartly dressed' implies neat, slightly formal clothing, not casual wear.

2. with quick, energetic force — describing a sudden movement or action done briskl

2.adverbB2
Definition

with quick, energetic force — describing a sudden movement or action done briskly and with purpose.

Example

The soldier smartly saluted the officer as she walked past.

adverb before verb: smartly + action verb (salute)

Jack smartly turned the steering wheel to avoid the deer on the road.

Common collocations
  • smartly saluted
  • smartly turned
  • smartly struck
  • smartly brought to a close
Synonyms
  • briskly

    Emphasizes speed and energy without the element of force

  • sharply

    Suggests a sudden, cutting movement, often more abrupt than 'smartly'

  • vigorously

    Focuses on strength and energy rather than speed or precision

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

smartly + action verb (smartly saluted, smartly turned)

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 by checking context: this sense describes brisk, forceful movement rather than appearance. Common in sports commentary, military reports, and driving narratives. Not used for mental quickness (that sense of 'smart' is covered by a different meaning of the adjective).

Common Mistakes

She smartly answered all the test questions.' (intended meaning: intelligently)
She quickly and accurately answered all the test questions.
'smartly' in the 'sharp action' sense does not mean 'intelligently'; use it for vigorous physical actions only.

Word family

  • smart
    adjectiveB1
  • smartness
    nounB2
  • smarter
    adjectiveB1
  • smartest
    adjectiveB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words describe dressing well, but with different emphases. Smartly (more common in British English) stresses neatness and a slightly formal, polished look — someone who is smartly dressed looks put-together for a business meeting or formal event. Stylishly focuses on fashion-forward taste: trendy cuts, colours, or accessories that may or may not be formal. Elegantly suggests grace and timeless sophistication, often implying expensive or refined clothing. Neatly is the most practical — it describes clean, pressed, orderly clothing without any comment on fashion or formality. For example: 'He arrived smartly dressed in a blazer and slacks' suggests proper formality; 'She was stylishly dressed in the season's boldest prints' suggests trendiness; 'The children were neatly dressed in clean, ironed uniforms' describes tidiness alone.

smartly ↗stylishlyelegantlyneatly ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed from the adjective 'smart' plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'. The adjective 'smart' comes from Old English 'smeart', meaning stinging or sharp — a reference to the sharp pain of a bite or a lash. By the 18th century, 'smart' had developed the sense of 'brisk, vigorous' (the origin of sense 2), and later came to mean 'stylish in appearance' (sense 1), possibly influenced by the idea of something being 'sharp-looking' or 'cutting a fine figure'.