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 smelt
-
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.
During the inquest, next door neighbour Claire Bennett told the jury she had smelt gas in the vicinity for about a fortnight before the blast.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2025
It wasn’t a horrible odour, but not like something I had smelt before.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2024
Her husband John, who was rescued by firefighters, told jurors he had smelt gas the day before and called out a Cadent engineer to inspect their house.
From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2020
He could smell it now—he had smelt it ever since.
From A Child of the Jago by Arthur Morrison
She had smelt that same smell when Jimmy had been born—which event also, by the way, had been the consequence of a lark.
From The Story of Louie by Oliver [pseud.] Onions
