smell

American  

[smel] / smɛl /

verb (used with object)

smelled, smelt, smelling

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)

smelled, smelt, smelling

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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Related Words

See odor.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of smell

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

Example Sentences

The Department of Fish and Wildlife said that the coyote was likely drawn into populated areas by the smell of food waste, unsecured trash cans or pet food left outside.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

A code enforcement officer investigating an odd smell found vials and labels for diseases at a California warehouse.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

The source - the smell of the remains of burnt out ambulances, which lie blackened in a car park next to a synagogue in the north-west London suburb.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Air traffic controllers were evacuated from the tower because of a burning smell coming from an elevator, the FAA said in a statement reported by the New York Post.

From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026

They feed on seals, and because hunters always smell of seals, the bears think they are seals and track them down.

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell

Related Words

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