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.
had smelled
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past perfectof smell.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
The NTSB’s preliminary investigation also found that workers in both buildings had smelled rotting eggs, an odorant added to normally odorless natural gas, before the explosion.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 7, 2023
Employees in both buildings told federal investigators they had smelled gas before the explosion.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 18, 2023
The cause of the blast was not immediately clear but witnesses said they had smelled gas prior to hearing the explosion.
From Reuters ● Jul. 3, 2023
According to a preliminary investigation by the fire department, a restaurant employee had smelled a gas leak about an hour before the explosion.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2023
She began buying single, unmixed oils—eucalyptus and helichrysum, sandalwood and ravensara—and the house, which for years had smelled of earthy bark and bitter leaves, suddenly smelled of lavender and chamomile.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
