sniff

[ snif ]

verb (used without object)

1. to draw air through the nose in short, audible inhalations.
2. to clear the nose by so doing; sniffle.
3. to smell by short inhalations.
4. to show disdain, contempt, etc., by or as by sniffing.

verb (used with object)

1. to perceive by or as by smelling:

   to sniff a scandal.

2. to inhale through the nose:

   to sniff the air.

noun

1. an act of sniffing; a single, short, audible inhalation.
2. the sound made by such an act.
3. a scent or odor perceived:

   a sniff of perfume.

sniff

/ snɪf /

verb

1. to inhale through the nose, usually in short rapid audible inspirations, as for the purpose of identifying a scent, for clearing a congested nasal passage, or for taking a drug or intoxicating fumes
2. whenintr, often foll by at to perceive or attempt to perceive (a smell) by inhaling through the nose

noun

1. the act or sound of sniffing
2. a smell perceived by sniffing, esp a faint scent

Derived Forms

• ˈsniffing, nounadjective

Other Words From

• sniffing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sniff¹

1300–50; Middle English; back formation from snivel

Word History and Origins

Origin of sniff¹

C14: probably related to snivelen to snivel

Example Sentences

So you have to position your business so that you have measurable audience reach that can survive the sniff test of very sophisticated marketers.

From Digiday

She charges into the trees, giving the base of each trunk a cursory sniff.

From Outside Online

As the backbone of the open web, publishers may consider tactics that claim to offer the allure of scale but don’t pass the sniff test when it comes to privacy.

From Digiday

One of the final sniff tests happens when the car is fully assembled.

From Popular-Science

It’s extremely important to keep dogs and other pets away from porcupines, as these rodents won’t hesitate to defend themselves, and can take even a curious sniff as a threat if they feel vulnerable.

From Popular-Science

Look at Billy Carter, my sweater-vested companions sniff derisively; look at Clinton.

From The Daily Beast

But even paranoid melodramatic self-aggrandizers sniff out nefarious and tentacular plots from time to time.

From The Daily Beast

If Letizia did know how to sniff out a media rat in her camp, it was undoubtedly due to her professional training as a journalist.

From The Daily Beast

Duane and Dicky lope backstage afterwards to “do some sniff,” as Dicky terms it.

From The Daily Beast

Late in the afternoon, the day being warm, I raised the window again and leaned out to get a sniff of air.

From The Daily Beast

He was coming out, like myself, to sniff the air; and I was not surprised, for its sweetness after the rain was intoxicating.

From Project Gutenberg

Watch sat down gravely near it, and gave an approving sniff at intervals.

From Project Gutenberg

The warm wind bore to them the sniff of the sand-dunes, spiced groves, and genii's islands far to southward.

From Project Gutenberg

"She wouldn't be of much use for fighting men," remarked Walter, with a slight sniff of contempt.

From Project Gutenberg

Joyce looked up with a flashing glance, and turned to Ellen, who received the notice with a sniff and a restrained smile.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• detect
• inhale
• smell