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.

Could have the game for Australia, but needs to smarten up.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2025

“Because of what he did to us, in his mind he had to smarten up. He didn’t get away with it,” Katrina said.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2022

“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

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

Katz for his part clearly dreaded her company and winced beneath her tireless urgings to smarten his pace.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson