to sniff

Examples

• All

• He had to sniff repeatedly because he was fighting off a cold.

• It's like, yeah, I want to sniff all the trees.

• Remember, do not sniff his hand.

  Tim Kochis: Purple Heart (2013)

• Andy, I would ask, why do you sniff for the dog's bones?

  Chris Williamson

• He can sniff out criminals before they even commit a crime.

  Air Buddies (2006)

• I see you sniffing around the newsroom for the big stories.

  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

• So and by the way, I'm sniffing because of allergy.

  Ear Biscuits

• When I pass a dog in the neighborhood and the dog stops and sniffs and wags his tail.

• The nostrils at the tip of their long beak enable the birds to sniff out soil-dwelling prey.

  Academic text (1993)

• JEZZIE jumps out of bed, runs to the table, sniffs at the food, and squeals excitedly.

  Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

S

to smell

vsto sniff

∞ 1.0

To notice a scent with your nose

is a short nasal intake often used for emotion or a cold rather than general perception

I

to inhale

vsto sniff

84 2.7

To breathe in air, smoke, or gas into your lungs

is a short nasal intake mainly for sensing odors or showing feeling

S

to sniffle

vsto sniff

18 2.3

To breathe noisily through the nose, often because of a cold or crying

is usually a single short nasal intake to detect odors or feeling

G

to get a whiff

vsto sniff

11 4.7

Smell something briefly, often a strong scent

is a short nasal intake often done to detect odors or show feeling

S

to scent

vsto sniff

5 3.5

To use the sense of smell to find something, often by animals

is a short nasal intake done for emotion or a cold rather than active tracking

C

to catch a whiff

vsto sniff

4 5.1

To notice a small smell of something for a short time

is a short nasal intake often used for emotion or a cold rather than brief noticing

N

to nose

vsto sniff

3 5.0

To find something by sniffing around

is a short nasal intake often used for emotion or a cold not mainly for searching

S

to snuffle

vsto sniff

1 7.5

To breathe through the nose to smell and find things

is a short nasal intake used for emotion or a cold

W

to whiff

vsto sniff

1 3.5

To smell something quickly through the nose

is a short nasal intake often used for emotion or a cold

Phrasal Verbs

S

to sniff out

• Informal

15 4.0

Find something by searching, often by smell

S

to sniff out trouble

• Informal

5.9

To notice problems or danger before other people do

How Strong

to snort

52 3.7

to sniff

266 1.0

to breathe in

54 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology