sneeze

verb \ ˈsnēz \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Examples: sneeze in a Sentence

Definition of sneeze

sneezed; sneezing

intransitive verb

: to make a sudden violent spasmodic audible expiration of breath through the nose and mouth especially as a reflex act

—

sneezer

noun

— sneeze at

: to make light of

the cost was nothing to sneeze at

See sneeze defined for English-language learners

See sneeze defined for kids

Examples of sneeze in a Sentence

She was constantly sneezing and coughing.

Recent Examples of sneeze from the Web

More than a few audience members around me sneezed.

— ellen dunkel, Philly.com, "'Doggie Hamlet': A baaa-llet where sheep are the stars," 4 June 2018
Airports are a germ factory: the constant in-and-out bathroom traffic, the gate with the person who cannot stop sneezing (and isn't covering their mouth), the charging station everyone's hovering over.

— danielle tullo, House Beautiful, "The Dirtiest Spot In an Airport Will Shock You — And No, It's Not the Bathroom," 30 May 2018
Still, 30-20 seasons are nothing to sneeze at, especially in San Diego.

— dennis lin, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Padres spring training primer: Infield," 6 Feb. 2018
Measles is a highly contagious virus that is spread through the air when someone coughs or sneezes.

— catherine rentz, baltimoresun.com, "Health officials confirm measles case in Maryland," 24 May 2018
The disease can be spread by coughing, sneezing or even breathing, the American Lung Association notes.

— NBC News, "What is pneumonia? What to know about symptoms and treatment," 7 May 2018
The films were simple at first, depicting either actual events (the arrival of a train at a railroad station; President McKinley strolling in his garden) or brief, often comic situations (a woman’s skirts blown up by a stiff wind; a man sneezing).

— Longreads, "When the Movies Went West," 15 May 2018
Histamine is a chemical your body makes that prompts symptoms like itching and sneezing, and antihistamines counter that, offering me a little bit of peace.

— nina bahadur, SELF, "I Have Horrible Allergies, But Pollen-Proofing My Home Helps Me Feel Less Miserable," 2 May 2018
One witness, Sacramento State student Timothy Nguyen, told The State Hornet that the ordeal was preceded by an argument after somebody sneezed.

— michael mcgough, sacbee, "Fight at Sac State library may have broken out after a student sneezed, witness says | The Sacramento Bee," 8 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sneeze.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sneeze

Middle English snesen, alteration of fnesen, from Old English fnēosan; akin to Middle High German pfnūsen to snort, sneeze, Greek pnein to breathe

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

sneeze

noun

Definition of sneeze

: an act or instance of sneezing

Recent Examples of sneeze from the Web

Pancakes with various fillings cooked in front mall hallway without sneeze guards.

— lorraine longhi, azcentral, "Chicken, tuna salad and other foods too hot or too cold in restaurant inspections," 13 June 2018
While the lucky guests at the royal wedding were taking in the beauty of the day, James Corden was focused on not letting a sneeze ruin a quiet moment.

— stephanie petit, PEOPLE.com, "James Corden Was Battling Allergies at the Royal Wedding: I 'Needed to Sneeze' During Ceremony," 22 May 2018
Just a sneeze could cause his ribs to break, Alma Cabacungan said.

— caitlin mullen, chicagotribune.com, "'He brings a smile to everyone he meets': Basketball court at Shriners Hospital named in honor of Oak Parker," 22 May 2018
Burns, Oregon, is a tiny, rural sneeze-and-you’ll-miss-it town in the remote southeastern part of the state.

— leah sottile, Longreads, "Bundyville Chapter One: A War in the Desert," 15 May 2018
There but for the grace of God went he: One sneeze and he would neither have seen the Promised Land nor been around to guide his fellow wanderers through the wilderness.

— julia felsenthal, Vogue, "HBO’s King in the Wilderness Takes On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Last Act," 30 Mar. 2018
Next time, the sneeze on the other side of the world could be much more dangerous.

— liz schrayer, Time, "Why America Could Become Vulnerable to the Next Major Pandemic," 27 Feb. 2018
And warmer average temperatures mean that spring starts earlier and winter arrives later, giving pollen producers more time to spew their sneeze-inducing particles.

— umair irfan, Vox, "It’s not your imagination. Allergy season gets worse every year.," 28 Apr. 2018
As if itchy, watery eyes and a congested nose aren't annoying enough, those symptoms can cause puffiness, redness, and make your eye makeup one sneeze away from running down your face.

— marci robin, Allure, "How to Conceal Your Seasonal Allergy Symptoms With Makeup," 19 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of sneeze

1646

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SNEEZE Defined for English Language Learners

sneeze

verb

Definition of sneeze for English Language Learners

: to suddenly force air out through your nose and mouth with a usually loud noise because your body is reacting to dust, a sickness, etc.

SNEEZE Defined for Kids

sneeze

verb \ ˈsnēz \

Definition of sneeze for Students

sneezed; sneezing

: to force the breath out in a sudden and noisy way

sneeze

noun

Definition of sneeze for Students

: an act or instance of sneezing

Medical Dictionary

sneeze

intransitive verb \ ˈsnēz \

medical Definition of sneeze

sneezed; sneezing

: to make a sudden violent spasmodic audible expiration of breath through the nose and mouth especially as a reflex act following irritation of the nasal mucous membrane