smoky

adjective

ˈsmō-kē 

variants or less commonly smokey

smokier; smokiest

1

: emitting smoke especially in large quantities

a smoky fireplace

2

a

: having the characteristics of or resembling smoke

a smoky haze

b

: suggestive of smoke especially in flavor or odor

3

a

: filled with smoke

a smoky room

b

: made dark or black by or as if by smoke

4

: having a low throaty quality

a smoky voice

smokily

ˈsmō-kə-lē 

adverb

smokiness

ˈsmō-kē-nəs 

noun

Examples of smoky in a Sentence

Her dress was a smoky blue.

Her smoky voice drew me in.

She gave him a smoky look.

Recent Examples on the Web

While the filling is a blend of rice and peas, the bacon adds a savory and smoky flavor to every bite and there’s just enough cream cheese to bind the mixture together. —Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2025

The Old Bay seasoning pops immediately on the first bite of the chicken wing, hitting your taste buds with a smoky flavor. —Kansas City Star, 29 Nov. 2025

The butter is crafted from the ash that is created from the restaurant’s charred vegetables and chilies and is whipped into their butter to impart a deep, smoky flavor. —Brittany Anas, Denver Post, 26 Nov. 2025

Produces a profoundly aromatic wine that gains a honeyed glaze and smoky, coffee-bean torrefaction with age. —Anna Lee C. Iijima, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing smoky

• smoky quartz
• smoky topaz

Rhymes for smoky

• cloche
• gnocchi
• loci
• pokey
• smokey
• karaoke

Kids Definition

smoky

adjective

variants also smokey

ˈsmō-kē 

smokier; smokiest

1

: giving off smoke especially in large quantities

smoky stoves

2

: resembling or suggestive of smoke

a smoky flavor

3

: filled with or darkened by smoke

a smoky room

smokily

-kə-lē 

adverb

smokiness

-kē-nəs 

noun