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
-
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:
If the U.S. has a financial sneeze, the rest of the world doesn’t get a nasty cold.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
He made her sneeze and caused watery eyes and severe rashes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
“But now, for the next six weeks, he can’t sneeze or cough because it could do a lot of damage.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 13, 2026
Interest surged in 2020 when the star unexpectedly dimmed after what was described as a stellar "sneeze."
From Science Daily ● Jan. 10, 2026
That’s when Danny lets out what might be the biggest, most violent, out-of-nowhere sneeze I’ve ever witnessed.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
People complain of irritation in their eyes and difficulty breathing, and coughs and sneezes are heard everywhere.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
Highly contagious, measles spreads quickly through coughs and sneezes and is particularly dangerous for unvaccinated young children under the age of 5.
From BBC ● May 27, 2026
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
In Milagro, waiting for Amarante Cordova to drop dead became like waiting for one of those huge sneezes that just refuses to come.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
Last week, CoreWeave sneezed, the market caught a cold, and everyone became a doctor delivering a diagnosis: Either the patient is going to die or become stronger than ever.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026
I felt a stab of pain whenever I coughed or sneezed.
From Slate ● Mar. 29, 2026
Every time he sneezed, I would say, “Bless you,” and he wouldn’t respond.
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
‘She told me ... she always said .. Mr. Lyte opened his jeweled snuffbox, took snuff, sneezed and blew his nose. ‘I can go on from there, boy.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
Cetirizine is commonly used to relieve symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes and skin reactions, including hives.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
Respiratory droplets carrying the Yersinia bacteria are released through coughing or sneezing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
The virus can spread through coughing and sneezing — hanging in the air and living on surfaces for hours after an infected person has left a room.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 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
Ralph dug through his old papers, sneezing as he explored one box after another; somehow they’d grown dusty in the move.
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
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