sniff
verb (used without object)
to draw air through the nose in short, audible inhalations.
have been sniffing
-
present perfect progressiveof sniff.present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
Search dogs have been sniffing through the rubble and rescuers are listening closely for any signs of life, but hope of finding more survivors is fading.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2023
Major labels, luxury fashion houses and experimental television creators have been sniffing around.
From New York Times ● May 11, 2022
“The developers have been sniffing around us for years,” says Aaron the barman.
From The Guardian ● Oct. 4, 2018
Ambitious cooks have been sniffing around the city’s watering holes for some time, but in the last year they formed a small stampede.
From New York Times ● Sep. 8, 2015
I supposed she must have been sniffing around, wanting to get a whiff of my science project for next year.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
