smartly

Everyday

1. Smartly means in a neat, tidy and good-looking way, especially about clothes. tree →
2. Smartly means quickly and sharply. tree →
3. Smartly can mean cleverly. tree →

In the lessons

In school, pupils are asked to dress smartly for photos or concerts. In stories «stepped smartly» or «turned smartly» shows quick, brisk movement, often soldier-like. «He rapped smartly on the door» means a quick, firm knock. In The Wind in the Willows animals often step or reply smartly.

Examples

• Everyone came to the wedding smartly dressed. tree →
• The soldier turned smartly and marched away. tree →
• She rapped smartly on the door. tree →
• Please walk smartly, we are late. tree →
• He answered the question smartly. tree →
• Toad stepped smartly into the motor car. tree →
• The waiter was smartly dressed in black and white. tree →
• ‘But you are very smartly dressed for the kind of life you lead,’ continued the old woman. tree →

Note

From «smart». In British English «smart» often means neat and well-dressed; in American English it more often means clever. «Smartly» can also mean «quickly», so read the sentence to see which.