smarten

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"They can fix it," one Whitehall source says, but "they have to realise they have caused it and smarten up how they make decisions".

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2025

“I would like to see people smarten up so that we don’t have to have a mandate in the first place,” she said.

From New York Times • Dec. 27, 2021

It’s also a self-protective reflex in the workplace: there’s vindication in seeing a boss who’s always telling others to smarten up wearing her sweater inside-out.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 14, 2018

Of course that goes for Billie Dawn, the ex-showgirl who bubbles along on Brock’s arm without a care in her head until Brock hires Verrall to smarten her up.

From Washington Post • Sep. 27, 2018

It don’t take long to smarten up, does it?”

From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds