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.
have smelled
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present perfectof smell.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Buying perfume online can be a gamble: Unless shoppers have smelled the fragrance in real life, they have to buy it without testing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026
But exactly how much it would reek is uncertain: “Not a lot of us have smelled a gem-dimercaptan. It could well be intense. I am not minded to find out.”
From New York Times ● Feb. 17, 2020
Because this was made of meat, it would have smelled bad as it decayed – it shrank and became really gross, but the photos looked great.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 26, 2019
Viewers might have smelled an azalea-scented blanket of CBS’ analysts trying to out-gush each other, overworking the cliché meter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2019
If Xan had her human nose and her human taste buds, the sausage would have smelled delicious.
From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill
