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.

---

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.

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

noun

1. an act or the sound of snuffing

snuff More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing snuff

• up to par (snuff)

---

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

See Examples For:

snuff

Diomande also showed power and sleight of foot to escape when Ecuador doubled up on him in an attempt to snuff out his threat.

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026

Those are now pushing 7% — as long as the applicant has a good credit score and their other financials are up to snuff.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 4, 2026

What Lily couldn’t have foreseen, of course, was that her amateur detective skills would become necessary when, one day, George is found dead, and the investigation by a bumbling local policeman isn’t up to snuff.

From Salon ● May 25, 2026

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

Dismounting at Rael’s, he bought some cigarettes and a tin of snuff, then crossed to the Frontier Bar, which was almost deserted, very quiet, and dark.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Related Words

• extinguish