reek

1 of 2

noun

ˈrēk 

1

chiefly dialectal : smoke

2

: vapor, fog

3

: a strong or disagreeable fume or odor

reek

2 of 2

verb

reeked; reeking; reeks

intransitive verb

1

: to emit smoke or vapor

2

a

: to give off or become permeated with a strong or offensive odor

a room reeking of incense

b

: to give a strong impression of some constituent quality or feature

a neighborhood that reeks of poverty

3

: emanate

transitive verb

1

: to subject to the action of smoke or vapor

2

: exude, give off

a politician who reeks charm

reeker noun

reeky

ˈrē-kē 

adjective

Synonyms

Noun

• stench

Verb

• smell
• stink

Examples of reek in a Sentence

Noun

a terrible reek coming from the garbage can

couldn't see through the reek of smog and smoke surrounding the steel plant

Verb

those old sneakers reek something awful

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The garden reeks of rotting figs. —David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

Carson Wentz‘s stat line didn’t reek of disaster in Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh in Dublin. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 28 Sep. 2025

Verb

The bathroom reeked of mold, its windowless walls preventing damp towels from ever fully drying. —Jeanne Malle, Air Mail, 4 Oct. 2025

Thousands of skeletal creatures were lying on bunks unable to move, while dead bodies were piled in heaps all around the camp, reeking of putrefaction. —Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English rek, from Old English rēc; akin to Old High German rouh smoke

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for reek

• beak
• beek
• bleak
• cheek
• chic
• clique
• creak
• creek
• eke
• freak
• geek
• greek

Kids Definition

reek

1 of 2 noun

ˈrēk 

1

: vapor sense 1, fog

2

: a strong or disagreeable fume or odor

reek

2 of 2 verb

1

: to give off smoke or vapor

2

a

: to have a strong or unpleasant smell

the kitchen reeks of garlic

clothes reeking of tobacco smoke

b

: to give a strong impression of some feature or quality

she reeks of snobbery

reeky

ˈrē-kē 

adjective