sniff

[ snif ]

/ snɪf /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sniff ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

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

to clear the nose by so doing; sniffle.

to smell by short inhalations.

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

verb (used with object)

to perceive by or as by smelling: to sniff a scandal.

to inhale through the nose: to sniff the air.

noun

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

the sound made by such an act.

a scent or odor perceived: a sniff of perfume.

Nearby words

Origin of sniff

1300–50; Middle English; back formation from snivel

Related formssniff·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sniff

If Letizia did know how to sniff out a media rat in her camp, it was undoubtedly due to her professional training as a journalist.
Meet the New Queen of Spain - 41-Year Old Divorcee And Commoner Letizia Ortiz|Tom Sykes|June 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Duane and Dicky lope backstage afterwards to “do some sniff,” as Dicky terms it.
Stacks: Hitting the Note with the Allman Brothers Band|Grover Lewis|March 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Late in the afternoon, the day being warm, I raised the window again and leaned out to get a sniff of air.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Delachaise, a pit bull mix, made it across the field on her first try, but had to stop and sniff the camera.
‘The Puppy Bowl’: The Super Bowl’s Fiercest Rival|Lori-Lee Emshey|February 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But is their sniff strong enough for an entire legal system to rest on?
Dog Orders Cavity Search; Lawsuits Ensue|Abby Haglage|November 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They had still fifteen paces to go when John Barrow came to a stop with a sniff of disgust.
The Rover Boys In The Mountains|Arthur M. Winfield
The two cubs sneaked forward, to sniff at the bones where their mother had been cut up—and began to eat her.
Pluck on the Long Trail|Edwin L. Sabin
Two Huns come to sniff at us, and we dive below the clouds once more.
Cavalry of the Clouds|Alan Bott
But as the time drew near for the return of the hunters, he began to sniff the air in every direction, his nose held high.
Frank of Freedom Hill|Samuel A. Derieux
As soon as they were in the court the rakshas began to run about from one side to the other and to sniff the air.
Fairy Tales from Many Lands|Katherine Pyle

British Dictionary definitions for sniff

sniff

/ (snɪf) /

verb

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

(when intr, often foll by at) to perceive or attempt to perceive (a smell) by inhaling through the nose

noun

the act or sound of sniffing

a smell perceived by sniffing, esp a faint scent

Derived Formssniffing, noun, adjective

Word Origin for sniff

C14: probably related to snivelen to snivel

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for sniff

sniff

mid-14c., of imitative origin; possibly related to snyvelen (see snivel). As an expression of scorn or contempt from 1729. As a synonym for smell (v.) it dates from 1845. In reference to cocaine from 1925. Related: Sniffed; sniffing.

sniff

1767, from sniff (v.); the scornful sense is from 1859.

sniff

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of sniff

Examples from the Web for sniff

sniff

verb

noun

Word Origin for sniff

sniff

sniff