sniff
verb (used without object)
to draw air through the nose in short, audible inhalations.
had sniffed
-
past perfectof sniff.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.
It's like she had sniffed out our problem.
From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2022
USC’s coaches thought Texas had sniffed out their play call on the Trojans’ final drive of regulation on Saturday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2017
The last known living rescue dog from 9/11, this 16-year-old Golden Retriever lives in Texas but came back in September to visit Ground Zero, where she had sniffed through the rubble looking for bodies.
From Time ● Apr. 21, 2016
Not long before, he had sniffed out a dumper of garbage on his property and reported him to the police.
From New York Times ● Jan. 24, 2010
The big male who had sniffed at her cook-fire that first afternoon approached and bared his frightening teeth.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
