sneeze

[sneez]

verb (used without object)

sneezed, sneezing 

1. to emit air or breath suddenly, forcibly, and audibly through the nose and mouth by involuntary, spasmodic action.

noun

1. an act or sound of sneezing.

verb phrase

1. sneeze at,  to treat with contempt; scorn.

   $50,000 is nothing to sneeze at.

sneeze

/ sniːz /

verb

1. (intr) to expel air and nasal secretions from the nose involuntarily, esp as the result of irritation of the nasal mucous membrane

noun

1. the act or sound of sneezing

Other Word Forms

• sneezeless adjective
• sneezer noun
• sneezy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sneeze¹

1485–95; earlier snese; replacing Middle English fnese, Old English fnēosan; cognate with Dutch fniezen, Old Norse fnȳsa

Word History and Origins

Origin of sneeze¹

Old English fnēosan (unattested); related to Old Norse fnӯsa, Middle High German fnūsen, Greek pneuma breath

Example Sentences

Opening windows where possible and practising good hygiene - using and then binning a tissue for coughs and sneezes and washing your hands - can help prevent this.

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Penelope jumped to her feet, sneezing with gusto.

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Then she buried her head under a pillow, from which some sort of unidentifiable, repetitive, smothered sound—weeping? sneezing? giggling?—could be heard.

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It tickled the lady’s nose and brought on more sneezes that sent hairpins flying every which way.

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“Blast these sneezing fits! Coming down with a bit of a cold, I’m afraid.”

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