to whiff
- verb
- /wɪf/
- He waded into the surf, still washing high, and whiffed a small grappling hook over its gunnel, hauling it near enough to grab and drag clear.
Examples
-
"Wharrrfff!" Mort whiffed.
Fiction book (2002) -
But as soon as they whiffed the carrion scent, Prince Sergey’s men revolted, none of them wanting a rematch with the monster.
Fiction book (2001) -
He whiffed the candle’s scent, enjoying the relaxing aroma of vanilla.
-
As the wind picked up, she whiffed a hint of saltwater in the air.
-
The boy whiffed the flowers, taking in their sweet fragrance on a sunny day.
Synonyms
To move air forcefully using your mouth, wind, or a fan
To move someone or something quickly and lightly
To move gently through the air on a light breeze, like a smell or sound
Air that moves quickly through a room or open window
Move gently through the air like a smell or sound
Idioms
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
- Specialized
A flat fish with small horn-like bumps on its head that lives on sandy sea bottoms in warm Atlantic waters
How Forceful
Surface Forms
Etymology
Whiff meaning 'to move by a puff' comes from the image of a quick puff of air that can push things, so when wind whiffs your papers it is like a short 'puff' moving them.