snuff

¹ American  

[snuhf] / snʌf /

verb (used with object)

1. to draw in through the nose by inhaling.

2. to perceive by or as by smelling; sniff.

3. to examine by smelling, as an animal does.

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verb (used without object)

1. to draw air into the nostrils by inhaling, as to smell something; snuffle.

   After snuffing around, he found the gas leak.

2. to draw powdered tobacco into the nostrils; take snuff.

3. Obsolete. to express disdain, contempt, displeasure, etc., by sniffing (often followed byat ).

noun

1. an act of snuffing; an inhalation through the nose; a sniff.

2. smell, scent, or odor.

3. a preparation of tobacco, either powdered and taken into the nostrils by inhalation or ground and placed between the cheek and gum.

4. a pinch of such tobacco.

idioms

1. up to snuff,

   1. British. not easily imposed upon; shrewd; sharp.

   2. up to a certain standard; satisfactory.

      His performance wasn't up to snuff.

snuff ² American  

[snuhf] / snʌf /

noun

1. the charred or partly consumed portion of a candlewick.

2. a thing of little or no value, especially if left over.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cut off or remove the snuff of (candles, tapers, etc.).

verb phrase

1. snuff out

   1. to extinguish.

      to snuff out a candle.

   2. to suppress; crush.

      to snuff out opposition.

   3. Informal. to kill, murder, or bring to a sudden end.

      Many lives were snuffed out during the epidemic.

snuff ¹ British  

/ snʌf /

noun

1. finely powdered tobacco for sniffing up the nostrils or less commonly for chewing

2. a small amount of this

3. any powdered substance, esp one for sniffing up the nostrils

4. informal

   1. in good health or in good condition

   2. not easily deceived

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verb

1. (intr) to use or inhale snuff

snuff ² British  

/ snʌf /

verb

1. (often foll by out) to extinguish (a light from a naked flame, esp a candle)

2. to cut off the charred part of (the wick of a candle, etc)

3. informal (usually foll by out) to suppress; put an end to

4. informal to die

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noun

1. the burned portion of the wick of a candle

snuff ³ British  

/ snʌf /

verb

1. (tr) to inhale through the nose

2. (esp of an animal) to examine by sniffing

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noun

1. an act or the sound of snuffing

snuff More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing snuff

• up to par (snuff)

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Other Word Forms

• snuffer
  noun
• snuffingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of snuff¹

First recorded in 1520–30; probably from Middle Dutch snuffen, snoffen

Origin of snuff²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun snof(fe), snuffe; further origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Lee briefly suspended a membership program for unlimited washes because the service wasn’t up to snuff.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

German investor morale slid to its lowest level in over three years in April, a survey showed Tuesday, as the Middle East war threatens to snuff out a tentative recovery in Europe's top economy.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

He has high standards and can be brisk in cutting off lawyers not up to snuff.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

As NBC News reported, zero members of the grand jury found the charges up to snuff.

From Slate • Feb. 14, 2026

But Ruth May was not up to snuff, so she was being quiet, hanging on to Mother’s hand.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• extinguish