smell

1 of 3

verb

ˈsmel How to pronounce smell (audio)
smelled ˈsmeld How to pronounce smell (audio) or chiefly British smelt ˈsmelt How to pronounce smell (audio) ; smelling
Synonyms of smellnext

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 truth …—R. 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 smells …—A. F. Wills
smeller noun
see also:
smell a rat smell blood smell the roses

smell

2 of 3

noun (1)

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 power.—Harry Hervey
4
: an act or instance of smelling

smeller

3 of 3

noun (2)

smell·​er
-lə(r)
plural -s
1
: one that smells
specifically : one that perceives, traces, or tests by the sense of smell
2
: a tactile bristle : vibrissa
3
a
: nose
b
: a blow on the nose

Synonyms of smell

Relevance

Verb

Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
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 (1) the distinctive smell of onions Dogs have a keen sense of smell.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The remarkable animals have been part of an APOPO training program in Tanzania for nearly 30 years, spending most of their lifespan of roughly 8 years learning how to hone their innate smelling skills and working in the field. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Public health experts have linked these health effects directly to exposure to contaminated water and air emanating from the pollution crisis, like the toxic foul-smelling gas hydrogen sulfide. — Samhita M Ilango, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
Mayor Karen Bass had imposed a 45-day deadline for Lineage to clean everything up as neighbors complained of rotting smells, rodents and flies. — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026 Some towels take longer to dry because of the material they’re made with, which can cause unwanted smells to build up faster than others. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for smell

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun (1)

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Phrases Containing smell

Rhymes for smell

See All Rhymes for smell

Browse Nearby Words

smegma
smell
smellable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Smell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smell. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

smell

1 of 2 verb
ˈsmel How to pronounce smell (audio)
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
: odor, scent sense 2
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
ˈsmel How to pronounce smell (audio)
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

Nglish: Translation of smell for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about smell

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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