sneeze

American  

[sneez] / sniz /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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noun

1. the act or sound of sneezing

Other Word Forms

• sneezeless adjective
• sneezer noun
• sneezy adjective

Etymology

Origin of sneeze

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

Example Sentences

"We're not talking about flu or Covid, where the virus designs itself to be spread through coughing and sneezing," he said.

From BBC

The cot had been vacated and I moved shakily toward it, trying not to sneeze or breathe as I squeezed past my cellmates.

From Literature

Prof Andrew Lee, from the University of Sheffield, suggests people with other infections that cause a lot of coughing and sneezing may have made it easier for meningitis-causing bacteria to spread in the club.

From BBC

The mouse sneezed and went back to its meal.

From Literature

Three dollars was nothing to sneeze at, but I shrank from the offer.

From Literature