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

an accusation that reeks of hypocrisy

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 of reek

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

Immigrants held at Alligator Alcatraz have reported scarcity of food, cages that reek of urine and use of force. —Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026

Dogs reek of burning plastic The ordinance generally references the burning of household waste and garbage. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026

Verb

His shirt reeked of the flowery-formaldehyde tartness of mothballs pickling dress pockets in a closet. —Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

The Phillies still trailed, and the move reeked of desperation from Mattingly, who is desperate because his team cannot score runs. —Matt Gelb, New York Times, 31 May 2026

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