sniff

American  

[snif] / snɪf /

verb (used without object)

• sniffs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• sniffed,
  past participle,  past
• sniffing
  present participle

1. to draw air through the nose in short, audible inhalations.

2. to clear the nose by so doing; sniffle.

3. to smell by short inhalations.

4. to show disdain, contempt, etc., by or as by sniffing.

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verb (used with object)

• sniffs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• sniffed,
  past participle,  past
• sniffing
  present participle

1. to perceive by or as by smelling.

   to sniff a scandal.

2. to inhale through the nose.

   to sniff the air.

noun

• sniffs
  plural

1. an act of sniffing; a single, short, audible inhalation.

2. the sound made by such an act.

3. a scent or odor perceived.

   a sniff of perfume.

sniff British  

/ snɪf /

verb

1. to inhale through the nose, usually in short rapid audible inspirations, as for the purpose of identifying a scent, for clearing a congested nasal passage, or for taking a drug or intoxicating fumes

2. to perceive or attempt to perceive (a smell) by inhaling through the nose

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noun

1. the act or sound of sniffing

2. a smell perceived by sniffing, esp a faint scent

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• sniffing
  noun
• sniffingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sniffs
  plural

Participles

• sniffing
  present
• sniffed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• sniff
  simple
• sniffs
  simple
• have sniffed
  perfect
• has sniffed
  perfect
• am sniffing
  progressive
• are sniffing
  progressive
• is sniffing
  progressive
• have been sniffing
  perfect progressive
• has been sniffing
  perfect progressive

Past

• sniffed
  simple
• had sniffed
  perfect
• was sniffing
  progressive
• were sniffing
  progressive
• had been sniffing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will sniff
  simple
• will have sniffed
  perfect
• will be sniffing
  progressive
• will have been sniffing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of sniff

1300–50; Middle English; back formation from snivel

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Explanation

Smell that cake baking? No? Take a sniff. A sniff is when you take air in through your nose to smell something. Dogs sniff a lot. It's how they get to know the world. Imagine this when you see the figurative use for sniff meaning to snoop as in, "The detective was sniffing around for clues." Sniff is one of those words that sound like what they mean. Take a big sniff and listen, you'll see. If you have a cold, and you keep sniffing, you have what's known as the sniffles.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sniff sniffs sniffed sniffing

Smart’s team doesn’t have a single rusher or receiver averaging even 50 yards per game, and none of the Bulldogs will sniff the Heisman Trophy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

This time round, with speculation about whether the current mayor will stand for a fourth term, the Conservatives sniff a chance.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

Systematic funds follow trends in the market, picking up on signals sent by price action — either up or down — that their models and trading algorithms sniff out.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026

And if you sniff the lobby of downtown Los Angeles’ Ritz-Carlton, you may detect “bright effervescent notes ... layered with soft florals,” a custom fragrance known as Champagne & Shimmer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

Natalie was glad to be alone for a little while, and Churro was happy to sniff at all the piles of trash and debris and to pee on everything.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

"In an hour, they can do thousands of sniffs," co-founder Akash Kulgod, 26, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

It sniffs out patterns invisible to the eye, predicts moves before the market even breathes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2025

Before long, Gaga’s version of her wicked queen sniffs out her prey.

From Salon ● Apr. 16, 2025

He sidles up, sniffs one of the vehicles, then jumps up and plants two giant paws up on the side of the buggy.

From BBC ● Dec. 17, 2024

Rosie swings her ears and sniffs him with her trunk.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Resy recently suspended a user’s account when it sniffed agent activity, but it’s not clear if this behavior is officially allowed or not.

From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026

But some have sniffed at this focus on "vibes".

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

The New York Times eventually sniffed out the backroom deal.

From Salon ● Aug. 3, 2026

And reaching a first European final in 14 years is an achievement not to be sniffed at.

From BBC ● May 22, 2026

She sniffed the potion but did not taste it.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

It was good news for Romesh at least, whose hay fever saved the day - Sharon Rooney could hear him sniffing constantly next to her so knew he couldn't have been a traitor.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Cats that had already become accustomed to the original sample began sniffing more again when the BFA fraction was switched.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

Now researchers are teaching it to smell, with the aim of sniffing out potential health concerns and even helping restore people’s lost sense of smell.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

When Hindenburg Omens occur in clusters, they tend to be more effective at sniffing out near-term weakness.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026

“What will we buy?” asked Jo, ignoring the latter part of his speech, and sniffing the mingled odors with an affectation of delight as they went in.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

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Related Words

• detect
• inhale
• smell

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