smell

verb

ˈsmel 

smelled ˈsmeld  or chiefly British smelt ˈsmelt  ; 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 truth …

—R. 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 smells …

—A. F. Wills

smeller noun

see also:

smell a rat smell blood smell the roses

Synonyms of smell

• sniff
• inhale

Examples of smell in a Sentence

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?

Recent Examples on the Web

Visitors will need to enter through the Japanese Garden Gates, and staff will be on-site to help those interested in seeing and smelling Horace. —Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026

Hatched larvae then burrow into the animal's flesh and feed on living tissue, creating painful, foul-smelling wounds. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 6 June 2026

Check for a Fresh, Mild Scent Fresh, high-quality fish shouldn’t smell overly fishy. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 5 June 2026

The village boutiques scattered along the sloping cobblestone alleys are just a five-minute stroll away, and offer the standard unremarkable Provence souvenirs—traditional fabrics, yellow pottery, straw bags, and sweet-smelling soaps. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing smell

• smell a rat
• smell blood
• smell out
• smell the roses
• smell trouble
• wake up and smell the coffee/roses

Rhymes for smell

• bel
• belle
• cel
• cell
• dell
• dwell
• el
• ell
• fel
• fell
• gel
• gell

Kids Definition

smell

1 of 2 verb

ˈsmel 

smelled ˈsmeld  or smelt ˈsmelt  ; 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

: odor, scent sense 2

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

ˈsmel 

smelled ˈsmeld  or smelt ˈsmelt  ; 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