sniff

/snɪf/ (bre, ipa) · /snɪf/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsnif/ (ame, mw)

sniff — verb

  • sniffpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • sniffshe / she / it
  • sniffedpast simple
  • sniffing-ing form

1. To draw air into your nose through short breaths in order to detect an odour or

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

To draw air into your nose through short breaths in order to detect an odour or discover where a smell is coming from.

例句

Ravindra sniffed the fresh bread as soon as he walked into the kitchen.

The dog sniffed the ground around the tree for several minutes before moving on.

sniff + noun phrase (object being smelled)

同義詞
  • smell

    more general; sniff specifically implies short, audible breaths through the nose

  • inhale

    more technical; sniff carries the idea of smelling something, whereas inhale is simply breathing in

  • snuffle

    sniff repeatedly, often wetly or noisily from a cold

反義詞
  • exhale

    breathe out rather than in

文法句型

sniff + noun phrase (directly smell something)

sniff at + noun phrase (approach to smell)

常見錯誤

❌I sniffed the soup but couldn't taste it.
✅I sniffed the soup but couldn't smell anything.
💡sniff detects smell, not taste.
❌She sniffed the air to stop her nose from running.
✅She sniffed loudly to stop her nose from running.
💡when clearing the nose, sniff is used intransitively, not with a direct object like 'the air'.

2. To breathe in sharply through the nose, often making a short sound that you can

2.動詞不及物B1
釋義

To breathe in sharply through the nose, often making a short sound that you can hear, when you have a cold or to stop liquid from running out of your nose.

例句

Reuben sniffed loudly after playing outside in the cold, then wiped his nose.

intransitive sniff + adverb loudly

Nia sniffed a few times while waiting for her cold medicine to take effect.

同義詞
  • sniffle

    sniff repeatedly and slightly wetly, usually from a cold or tears

文法句型

sniff (no direct object)

用法筆記

This sense is intransitive only — you do not sniff something in this meaning. Frequently appears in descriptions of someone who has a cold, has been crying, or is in cold weather.

常見錯誤

❌He sniffed his nose to clear it.
✅He sniffed to clear his nose.
💡the verb is intransitive; 'nose' cannot be the object of sniff in this sense.

3. To express scorn, a lack of respect, or strong disapproval through one's tone —

3.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

To express scorn, a lack of respect, or strong disapproval through one's tone — often by speaking with contempt about a person, an idea, or a suggestion.

例句

When Felipe mentioned his plan, Hugo sniffed and said he had heard better ideas before.

'You call that art?' Allison sniffed, looking at the painting with obvious distaste.

sniff + quoted speech expressing scorn

同義詞
  • scoff

    laugh or mock at something scornfully; more openly dismissive than sniff

  • sheer

    show contempt through facial expression or tone

  • disdain

    to regard with contempt; more formal and less vocal than sniff

反義詞
  • praise

    express warm approval or admiration

文法句型

sniff at + noun phrase (express scorn about)

sniff + that-clause (say scornfully)

用法筆記

Often used with a that-clause or with quoted speech to report the scornful remark. The intransitive form 'sniff at + something' is more common than the transitive form with a clause.

常見錯誤

❌He sniffed at the offer and accepted it with pleasure.
✅He sniffed at the offer, saying it was far too low.
💡sniffing at something means you disapprove or look down on it, not that you like it.

sniff — noun