smell

1 of 2

verb

smelled ˈsmeld How to pronounce smell (audio) or chiefly British smelt ˈsmelt How to pronounce smell (audio) ; smelling

transitive verb

1
: to perceive the odor or scent of through stimuli affecting the olfactory nerves : get the odor or scent of with the nose
2
: to detect or become aware of as if by the sense of smell
I smell trouble
3
: to emit the odor of

intransitive verb

1
: to exercise the sense of smell
2
a(1)
: to have an odor or scent
(2)
: to have a characteristic aura or atmosphere : smack
the accounts … seemed to me to smell of truthR. S. Bourne
also : seem, appear
the story didn't smell right
b(1)
: to have an offensive odor : stink
(2)
: to be of bad or questionable quality
all this from the moral point of view smellsA. F. Wills
smeller noun

smell

2 of 2

noun

1
: the property of a thing that affects the olfactory organs : odor
2
a
: the process, function, or power of smelling
b
: the sense concerned with the perception of odor
3
a
: a very small amount : trace
add only a smell of garlic
b
: a pervading or characteristic quality : aura
the smell of affluence, of powerHarry Hervey
4
: an act or instance of smelling
Phrases
smell a rat
: to have a suspicion of something wrong
smell blood
: to sense an opponent's weakness or vulnerability
smell the roses
: to enjoy or savor life
Choose the Right Synonym for smell

smell, scent, odor, aroma mean the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense.

smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character.

an odd smell permeated the room

scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant.

the scent of lilacs

odor may imply a stronger or more readily distinguished scent or it may be equivalent to smell.

a cheese with a strong odor

aroma suggests a somewhat penetrating usually pleasant odor.

the aroma of freshly ground coffee

Examples of smell in a Sentence

Verb She leaned over and smelled the flowers. I have a cold right now so I can't smell. I can't smell anything because I'm so stuffed up. I could smell dinner cooking. I think I smell gas. This car smells like mold. Can't you smell the profits? Noun the distinctive smell of onions Dogs have a keen sense of smell. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Victoria’s Secret Tease Cocoa Soirée Eau de Parfum, $59.95 (1.7 oz) - $79.95 (3.4 oz);victoriassecret.com Like the decadent beverage, this rich fragrance—which has notes of berries, freesia, dark cocoa and Chantilly cream—will keep you warm (and smelling scrumptious) as the temps fall. Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023 One pass with a cotton pad eliminates all evidence of past color, without making your nails feel brittle (thanks to castor and grapefruit peel oils) or your bathroom smell like a distillery. Liana Schaffner, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023 Now, many people can stop and smell the Vogue World roses. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2023 Officers stopped the vehicle, smelled the odor of marijuana and detained the driver, a Warrensville Heights man, 19. cleveland, 15 Sep. 2023 The Chesapeake cowboys rode into St. Michaels, Md., on a steamy Sunday in August, and the air smelled like crab seasoning and diesel exhaust, with a dash of light beer and lime. Jason Nark Kent Nishimura, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023 Little Amal will smell the oversized flower puppets, created by Center Stage, and watch butterfly puppets made by local students flutter. Abigail Gruskin, Baltimore Sun, 14 Sep. 2023 Another issue pointed out by users is that the next meal made in the air fryer tastes and smells like dish soap. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2023 Understanding how mosquitoes smell humans could save thousands of human lives Looking more specifically at the US, Culex mosquitoes – namely, the common house mosquito – are a big target for control efforts. Ritu Prasad, CNN, 12 Sep. 2023
Noun
Read on to learn what causes period blood smell, how to minimize it, and when to see a healthcare provider. 1. Samantha Lauriello, Health, 20 Sep. 2023 And, best of all, our sensitive noses detected zero smell. Barbara Bellesi Zito, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2023 Now the pop star will find out whether his sense of smell gains the same sort of following. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2023 Sewage seeped out, and the smell was a real appetite killer. Dave Lieber, Dallas News, 18 Sep. 2023 The trainer then plays hide and seek with the dog, who is learning to track based solely on a sense of smell, according to Medhurst. Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2023 For some, however, that smell is the smell of home. Stacey Leasca, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2023 Often, a highly unpleasant, rich, drain-like smell pervades in affected areas. Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 11 Sep. 2023 Dogs are uniquely positioned to collect data that helps humans track and preserve endangered species — and find invasive species — because of their exceptional sense of smell. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smell.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of smell was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near smell

Cite this Entry

“Smell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smell. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

smell

1 of 2 verb
smelled ˈsmeld How to pronounce smell (audio) or smelt ˈsmelt How to pronounce smell (audio) ; smelling
1
: to become aware of an odor by means of the sense organs located in the nose
smell dinner cooking
2
: to detect or become aware of as if by the sense of smell
smell trouble
3
: to use the sense of smell
4
a
: to have or give off an odor
the candles smell like roses
b
: to have a disagreeable odor : stink
c
: to give a hint or trace of something
the plan smells of trickery
smeller noun

smell

2 of 2 noun
1
2
: the process or power of becoming aware of an odor
also : the sense by which one detects odor
3
: a special quality associated with a given source : aura
the smell of adventure
4
: an act of smelling

Medical Definition

smell

1 of 2 verb
smelled ˈsmeld How to pronounce smell (audio) or smelt ˈsmelt How to pronounce smell (audio) ; smelling

transitive verb

: to perceive the odor or scent of through stimuli affecting the olfactory nerves : get the odor or scent of with the nose

intransitive verb

: to exercise the sense of smell

smell

2 of 2 noun
1
: the property of a thing that affects the olfactory organs : odor
2
: the special sense concerned with the perception of odor

More from Merriam-Webster on smell

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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