smart

To feel a sharp, burning pain.

• The cut on my finger smarts.
• Her eyes smarted in the smoky room.
• My cheek was still smarting from the slap.

How to use it: smart from something (My eyes smarted from the smoke.)

Similar words: sting, burn, hurt

Common phrases: eyes smart, smart with pain, smart from something

Able to understand things quickly, learn easily, and make good decisions.

• Your sister is very smart.
• That was a smart way to solve the problem.
• The smartest students asked the hardest questions.

Similar words: clever, intelligent, bright

Opposites: stupid, unintelligent

Common phrases: smart child, smart person, smart choice

Good at understanding people and dealing with social situations to your advantage.

• He is smart with people.
• You need to be street smart in this city.
• She was smart enough to win everyone’s support.

How to use it: smart about something (She is smart about dealing with difficult customers.)

Similar words: shrewd, savvy, astute

Opposites: naive

Common phrases: street smart, smart with people, smart operator

Knowing and understanding a lot of information learned from books or study.

• She is book smart.
• He is smart in school but struggles with everyday problems.
• Our smartest student knows a lot about ancient history.

Similar words: knowledgeable, learned

Opposites: ignorant

Common phrases: book smart, smart student, smart in school