smell

American  

[smel] / smɛl /

verb (used with object)

smells, present (3rd person singular) smelled, past participle, past smelt, past participle, past smelling present participle

1. to perceive the odor or scent of through the nose by means of the olfactory nerves; inhale the odor of.

   I smell something burning.

2. to test by the sense of smell.

   She smelled the meat to see if it was fresh.

3. to perceive, detect, or discover by shrewdness or sagacity.

   The detective smelled foul play.

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verb (used without object)

smells, present (3rd person singular) smelled, past participle, past smelt, past participle, past smelling present participle

1. to perceive something by its odor or scent.

2. to search or investigate (followed by around orabout ).

3. to give off or have an odor or scent.

   Do the yellow roses smell?

4. to give out an offensive odor; stink.

5. to have a particular odor (followed byof ).

   My hands smell of fish.

6. to have a trace or suggestion (followed byof ).

7. Informal. to be of inferior quality; stink.

   The play is good, but the direction smells.

8. Informal. to have the appearance or a suggestion of guilt or corruption.

   They may be honest, but the whole situation smells.

noun

1. the sense of smell; faculty of smelling.

2. the quality of a thing that is or may be smelled; odor; scent.

3. a trace or suggestion.

4. an act or instance of smelling.

5. a pervading appearance, character, quality, or influence.

   the smell of money.

verb phrase

1. smell out to look for or detect as if by smelling; search out.

   to smell out enemy spies.

2. smell up to fill with an offensive odor; stink up.

   The garbage smelled up the yard.

idioms

1. smell a rat. rat.

smell British  

/ smɛl /

verb

1. (tr) to perceive the scent or odour of (a substance) by means of the olfactory nerves

2. (copula) to have a specified smell; appear to the sense of smell to be

   the beaches smell of seaweed

   some tobacco smells very sweet

3. to emit an odour (of)

   the park smells of flowers

4. (intr) to emit an unpleasant odour; stink

5. to detect through shrewdness or instinct

6. (intr) to have or use the sense of smell; sniff

7. to give indications (of)

   he smells of money

8. (intr; foll by around, about, etc) to search, investigate, or pry

9. (copula) to be or seem to be untrustworthy or corrupt

10. to detect something suspicious

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noun

1. that sense (olfaction) by which scents or odours are perceived

2. anything detected by the sense of smell; odour; scent

3. a trace or indication

4. the act or an instance of smelling

smell More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing smell

• come up (smelling like) roses
• stink (smell) to high heaven

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Synonym Usage

See odor.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• smellable
  adjective
• outsmell
  verb (used with object)
• smell-less
  adjective
• unsmelled
  adjective
• unsmelling
  adjective
• smeller
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has smelled
  perfect 3rd person singular
• has smelt
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have smelled
  perfect
• have smelt
  perfect
• am smelling
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been smelling
  perfect progressive
• is smelling
  progressive 3rd person singular
• smells
  singular 3rd person
• has been smelling
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are smelling
  progressive
• smelling
  participle

Past

• had smelt
  perfect
• had smelled
  perfect
• had been smelling
  perfect progressive
• was smelling
  progressive singular
• were smelling
  progressive plural
• smelled
  simple
• smelt
  simple
• smelled
  participle
• smelt
  participle

Future

• will smell
  simple
• will have smelled
  perfect
• will have smelt
  perfect
• will have been smelling
  perfect progressive
• will be smelling
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of smell

First recorded in 1125–75; early Middle English smell, smull (noun), smellen, smullen (verb); origin uncertain.

Explanation

Smell is one of your five senses—the one you use your nose for. Dogs have such a sharp sense of smell that they can sniff out things like explosives and drugs. Your sense of smell gives you important information, like "this milk is sour," or "I need a shower." An individual odor or scent is also a smell, and to perceive it with your nose is to smell it. If someone says, "You smell," it's not a compliment—what they mean is, "You don't smell good." While experts believe that smell has an Old English root, it was never recorded.

Example Sentences

You'll be the one to smell opportunity, and to lead your company toward it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Balogun then looked over at a frowning Ream, who had just finished urging his teammates to be sure to stop and smell the flowers along this World Cup journey.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

The island's distinctive white colour comes from bird droppings - also known as guano - which coat the surface and give it a distinctive smell.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

To help cut down the fishy smell, top the fish with your choice of acid, like fresh lemon juice or rice vinegar.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

Because we feed processed meat to the dogs there is always the smell of meat over the kennel.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• aroma
• bouquet
• flavor
• perfume
• scent
• stench
• stink
• trace
• whiff