verb
stink
stihngk
verb
1
To give off a strong, unpleasant smell.
"The bins outside the restaurant stink in the summer heat."
2
To be very bad in quality (informal).
"Everyone agreed the movie's ending stank."
noun
1
A strong bad smell.
"There was a stink of rotten eggs coming from the drain."
2
A fuss, complaint, or public objection (informal).
"She raised a stink about the parking charges at the meeting."
How to Use Stink
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo smell bad, be bad in quality, or (as a noun) a fuss or complaint.
Common pairings
stink of smoke
raise a stink
stink to high heaven
Word Forms
more stink comparative, stank past tense, stunk past tense, stinks plural, stinks singular, most stink superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “stink”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bins outside the restaurant _____ in the summer heat.
Etymology
From Old English stincan, from an ancient Germanic root meaning "to push or strike" — related to the idea of a smell "hitting" you.