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.
is smelling
-
present progressiveof smell (3rd person singular).present progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or state that is currently taking place in the immediate 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.
“I think that Sega is smelling blood here,” said Serkan Toto, a video game industry consultant in Tokyo.
From New York Times ● Jan. 23, 2024
It’s an insane affair—how can you get away with anything when a grim-faced maid is smelling the royal sheets every morning?—and a lot of fun to watch, primarily because we want to see Caroline bloom.
From Time ● Nov. 8, 2012
The characters’ return might indicate that MTV is smelling the beginning of the end of its current era of reality-shock programming.
From New York Times ● Oct. 26, 2011
The hormone testosterone is going down and the hormone prolactin is going up in the male brain, because he is smelling the pheromones of his pregnant wife.
From Time ● Mar. 30, 2010
"Dogs' drrroppings is smelling like violets and prrrimroses compared vith children!"
From "The Witches" by Roald Dahl
