smell

1 of 2

verb

smelled ˈsmeld How to pronounce smell (audio) or chiefly British smelt ˈsmelt How to pronounce smell (audio) ; 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 truthR. 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 smellsA. F. Wills
smeller noun

smell

2 of 2

noun

1
: the property of a thing that affects the olfactory organs : odor
2
a
: the process, function, or power of smelling
b
: the sense concerned with the perception of odor
3
a
: a very small amount : trace
add only a smell of garlic
b
: a pervading or characteristic quality : aura
the smell of affluence, of powerHarry Hervey
4
: an act or instance of smelling
Phrases
smell a rat
: to have a suspicion of something wrong
smell blood
: to sense an opponent's weakness or vulnerability
smell the roses
: to enjoy or savor life
Choose the Right Synonym for smell

smell, scent, odor, aroma mean the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense.

smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character.

an odd smell permeated the room

scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant.

the scent of lilacs

odor may imply a stronger or more readily distinguished scent or it may be equivalent to smell.

a cheese with a strong odor

aroma suggests a somewhat penetrating usually pleasant odor.

the aroma of freshly ground coffee

Examples of smell in a Sentence

Verb 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? Noun the distinctive smell of onions Dogs have a keen sense of smell.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The presence of the fish — including delta smelt, winter-run chinook salmon and steelhead trout — has triggered state and federal permit requirements that significantly reduce pumping from the delta, including limiting the ability to move water into the San Luis Reservoir, officials said. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2024 Some flowers may smell as good, but none smell better. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2024 Currie and Andy Coxon are former performers on London’s West End who created their hero product, The Deodorant Balm, to help fellow cast members feel—and smell—fresh after long days on stage. Lindy Segal, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2024 The dense nature of carpets inevitably traps smells, but carpet cleaning helps eliminate odors, for example, from pets or cooking, And, of course, clean carpets improve the aesthetics of your home. USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024 Here's how to tell the difference: Urine has a yellowish color and smells like ammonia, while amniotic fluid is usually odorless, says Brichter. Nicole Harris, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024 The steeply slanted roof makes the space seem small; the chairs are just a foot above the ground, as if made for children or toys; and the elevator up smells vaguely like crayons. Vrinda Jagota, SPIN, 11 Mar. 2024 And there is another multifaceted way in which birds exceed our standard human frames of reference and appear like strange and extraordinary creatures: in the sharpness of their senses, whether of hearing, sight or even smell. Jack Gedney, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 Once the fruit turns golden brown and begins to smell ripe, remove your pineapple with a sharp knife. Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2024
Noun
As noted by SamMobile, a moderator on Samsung’s EU community forums offered a reasonable explanation for the smell: This isn’t anything to be concerned about. Allison Johnson, The Verge, 22 Mar. 2024 Airlines, meanwhile, are maintaining a double standard for smells. Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024 Kosciusko has sunk millions into addressing the smell. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 Sound, touch, smell, sight, and taste can draw us into a rapturous examination of the new, unfurling leaves on a tree or the antics of a honeybee. Celine Nguyen, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024 Again, though, smell is something the ADA mandates addressing. Julia Sullivan, SELF, 14 Mar. 2024 Spence and other residents still wonder how the property manager could've missed the putrid smell. Journal Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2024 Avians rely more on their eyesight than mammals, who are dependent on smell. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Mar. 2024 Jonathan speaks of expecting a diverse clientele in the restaurant’s first year but being happily surprised that Dominicans drive from all over the region, grateful and nostalgic for the smells and tastes. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smell.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of smell was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near smell

Cite this Entry

“Smell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smell. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

smell

1 of 2 verb
smelled ˈsmeld How to pronounce smell (audio) or smelt ˈsmelt How to pronounce smell (audio) ; 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
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
smelled ˈsmeld How to pronounce smell (audio) or smelt ˈsmelt How to pronounce smell (audio) ; 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

More from Merriam-Webster on smell

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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