B2verbnatureemotions
US/snɪf/
UK/snɪf/
to breathe in through the nose in short noisy breaths, to smell something or because you are crying
In context
The dog sniffed the bag and began to bark.
She sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
He sniffed the milk to check whether it had gone bad.
Words that go with sniff
verb + noun
- sniff the airThe fox stopped and sniffed the air.
- sniff a flowerChildren stopped to sniff a flower on the way to school.
verb + preposition
- sniff atThe cat sniffed at the new food and walked away.
verb + adverb
- sniff outTrained dogs can sniff out hidden drugs.
- sniff aroundReporters began to sniff around the company.
- sniff loudlyHe sniffed loudly throughout the film.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
The soup sniffs good.Correct: The soup smells good.