sniff
verb (used without object)
to draw air through the nose in short, audible inhalations.
sniffed
-
past participleof sniff.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof sniff.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
sniffverb (used without object)to draw air through the nose in short, audible inhalations.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
The male bear—later identified as a known burglar named Judy—moseyed into a bathroom, put its paws on the counter and sniffed a tube of toothpaste before leaving.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
The woman sniffed and dried her eyes with a tissue.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
