scent
Americannoun
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a distinctive odor, especially when agreeable.
the scent of roses.
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an odor left in passing, by means of which an animal or person may be traced.
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a track or trail as or as if indicated by such an odor.
The dogs lost the scent and the prisoner escaped.
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the sense of smell.
a remarkably keen scent.
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small pieces of paper dropped by the hares in the game of hare and hounds.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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a distinctive smell, esp a pleasant one
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a smell left in passing, by which a person or animal may be traced
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a trail, clue, or guide
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an instinctive ability for finding out or detecting
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another word (esp Brit) for perfume
verb
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(tr) to recognize or be aware of by or as if by the smell
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(tr) to have a suspicion of; detect
I scent foul play
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(tr) to fill with odour or fragrance
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(intr) (of hounds, etc) to hunt by the sense of smell
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to smell (at)
the dog scented the air
Synonym Usage
See odor.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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scentlessnessnoun
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outscentverb (used with object)
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nonscentedadjective
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overscentedadjective
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scentedadjective
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scentlessadjective
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unscentedadjective
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well-scentedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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scentsimple
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scentssimple
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have scentedperfect
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has scentedperfect
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am scentingprogressive
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are scentingprogressive
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is scentingprogressive
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have been scentingperfect progressive
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has been scentingperfect progressive
Past
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scentedsimple
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had scentedperfect
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was scentingprogressive
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were scentingprogressive
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had been scentingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of scent
First recorded in 1325–75; (verb) earlier sent, Middle English senten, from Middle French sentir “to smell,” from Latin sentīre, “to feel”; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb Cf. sense
Explanation
A scent is a smell. Every house has a particular scent that is recognizable to people as belonging to that house. Scent comes from the Latin sentire meaning "to feel, perceive, sense." The word was originally used in reference to hunting dogs, who track down animals by their scent. If you "pick up a scent," then you have a clue about something. If you wear a perfume, then you leave your scent in the air as you pass. Use scent instead of smell if you want to talk about a distinctively nice odor, like the scent of fresh-cut grass.
Vocabulary lists containing scent
The Nose Knows: Olfactory Vocabulary
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Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Smell Words
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
KYIV, Ukraine—The scent from flower stalls mixes with the charred smell of a bombed-out mall.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Upgrade your scent game this summer with a visit to Maison Louis Marie’s new flagship store in Silver Lake.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
They can find hard-to-navigate paths through rubble to follow a scent or identify different access points to the victim, Selvakumaran tells the BBC.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
Terpenes are natural compounds responsible for the scent and flavor of many plants.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 20, 2026
But Fernlight’s sweet aroma was repulsive compared to the rich, dark scent of Deadwood.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Despite being marketed as an eau de parfum for men, the fragrance’s notes leaned more toward typically unisex scents.
From Salon ● May 27, 2026
At her picnic-like gatherings, attendees show up with blankets, snacks and scents to swap or discuss.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026
In another corner, guests try fragrance pairings, scents expertly paired with drinks, letting the aroma and flavors mingle through their senses.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026
Modern perfumes rely heavily on oil, because their scents are made mostly from synthetic compounds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 21, 2026
Harry looked handsome and reeked of the competing scents of lavender pomade and bay rum toilet water.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
They reminisce about the brown bread: those sweet, dark little wheat loaves scented with honey, molasses, cocoa powder and espresso.
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
Seventeen runs from a maiden century, he scented six of them when Nathan Gilchrist dropped short, but his pull found only the hands of Dan Mousley at deep square leg.
From BBC ● Apr. 3, 2026
“We can never go back to the old days where the air was clean and pure and sweet and scented with orange blossoms.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026
They offer personalized service, in which white-coat butlers can help draw a scented bath, deliver hors d’oeuvres or arrange a private cocktail reception.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 18, 2026
Kneeling as if for prayer, she dismissed Cristiana, who set down the basin of scented water she carried.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
The Japanese accomplish subtle scenting with nioi-bukuro, breathable sachets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 2026
It's framed with trees laden with citrus fruits and row after row of bushy herbs, the rosemary and sage scenting the air.
From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2023
Now Ahab inhales deeply, scenting in the salt air the presence of his nemesis.
From New York Times ● Jan. 13, 2023
Signs that your feline friend is bonded to you include scenting by rubbing their head on you, showing their belly, blinking and letting you get close.
From Scientific American ● Dec. 21, 2022
He navigated by other signs—his Arctic fox dæmon for one, who sat at the front of the sledge keenly scenting the way.
From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
