sneeze
Americanverb (used without object)
-
sneezes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
sneezed,
past participle, past
-
sneezing
present participle
noun
-
sneezes
plural
verb phrase
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
sneezesimple
-
sneezessimple
-
have sneezedperfect
-
has sneezedperfect
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am sneezingprogressive
-
are sneezingprogressive
-
is sneezingprogressive
-
have been sneezingperfect progressive
-
has been sneezingperfect progressive
Past
-
sneezedsimple
-
had sneezedperfect
-
was sneezingprogressive
-
were sneezingprogressive
-
had been sneezingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sneeze
1485–95; earlier snese; replacing Middle English fnese, Old English fnēosan; cognate with Dutch fniezen, Old Norse fnȳsa
Explanation
When you sneeze, you blow air forcefully (and involuntarily) out of your nose and mouth, possibly while making a sound that might be spelled "achoo!" Allergies, pepper, and dust are all famous for making people sneeze. Behind every sneeze is some kind of irritant, a foreign substance that bothers the mucous membranes inside your nose. Pollen, cat dander, and the inflammation of your nose caused by a cold virus can all cause a sneeze (or several sneezes). When you sneeze, muscles in your face, neck, and chest contract reflexively. In rare cases, very bright lights or eating a large meal can make people sneeze. Go figure!
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.
See Examples For:
That is nothing to sneeze at—though it is dwarfed by the $13 trillion that was indexed to the S&P 500.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 8, 2026
Interest surged in 2020 when the star unexpectedly dimmed after what was described as a stellar "sneeze."
From Science Daily ● Jan. 10, 2026
"If Manchester United sneeze, football catches a cold," football finance expert Kieran Maguire told BBC Sport.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2025
As a result, Mr. Hegseth’s pocket square is nothing to sneeze at.
From Salon ● Apr. 6, 2025
“Agreed. Better safe than sorry. Look before you leap. A stitch in time, a bird in the hand, a sneeze in the wind, yes?”
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
The old adage that the rest of the world sneezes when the U.S. catches a cold very much applies to bonds as well.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
The virus spreads from person to person through close physical contact, coughs or sneezes and touching infected clothing, bedding or towels.
From BBC ● Dec. 8, 2025
And if tech sneezes, global financial markets—starting with the U.S.—will catch a cold.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2025
RSV can spread through coughs or sneezes but also by touching a contaminated surface, such as a door handle, and then touching your face before washing your hands, health officials warn.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2025
Her grandmother Lucy had told her that a lady never sneezes, burps, runs, screams, or cries in public.
From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
I felt a stab of pain whenever I coughed or sneezed.
From Slate ● Mar. 29, 2026
Measles is a highly contagious disease which is spread by coughs and sneezes or by touching things that someone with measles has coughed or sneezed on.
From BBC ● Feb. 15, 2026
Then one time, he sneezed, and my cousin said, “Bless you.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2025
Though initially, this created a buzz that Betelgeuse might go supernova any minute, scientists soon found out that the dimming was actually due to a large fluff of dust that the monster sneezed out.
From Space Scoop ● Aug. 20, 2025
Edward Ashton sneezed so loudly the walls shook and the chickens buck-buck-bucked in alarm.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Hay fever sufferers may have already noticed an increase in sneezing and itchy eyes over recent days as we head into the peak of grass pollen season.
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026
It can spread through coughing and sneezing, and remain infectious in the air up to two hours after an infected person has left a room.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2026
Lying would be obvious if you’re not coughing, sniffling or sneezing, and insulting to the other person.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025
University students are particularly at risk because they mix with lots of new people, and the bacteria that cause meningitis are spread in similar ways to the common cold through sneezing and coughing.
From BBC ● Dec. 1, 2025
Nothing but the sound of the horses shifting as we worked, Miss Maggie sneezing at the dust stirred up by the dandy brush.
From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
