smell
verb (used with object)
to perceive the odor or scent of through the nose by means of the olfactory nerves; inhale the odor of.
smelling
-
present participleof smell.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
This version leans hard into fresh corn, still in its cool green husks and already smelling sweet before you cut it from the cob.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
“People are seeing with their own eyes, and I think frankly smelling with their own nose,” Mr. Sabet, 47, says in a phone interview.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Emergency workers stood on the charred roof, still smelling of burning, sawing off damaged sections and tossing the debris into a pile.
From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026
At her home in Stanton on Thursday, Leticia Rinker, 71, kept thinking she was smelling gas.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2026
I caught up with him at the base of Listening Rock, where he slurped his sloppy tongue all over my face in a frenzied Hurry up!, his breath smelling like lima beans.
From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
