smell
11 synonyms and 0 antonyms for smell, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A sensation caused by breathing in odor particles, pleasant or unpleasant.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use smell
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Middle English smellen, of Germanic origin, ultimately tied to an old root meaning "to smoulder or emit fumes."
Full origin of smell →Frequently asked questions
What does “smell” mean?
The word “smell” means a sensation caused by breathing in odor particles, pleasant or unpleasant. In plain terms, to detect an odor through the nose, or to give off one yourself.
How do you pronounce “smell”?
“Smell” is pronounced smehl (/smɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “smell” in a sentence?
Here is “smell” used in a sentence: “The smell of fresh bread filled the kitchen.”
What is another word for “smell”?
Words with a similar meaning to “smell” include fragrance, odor, odour, scent, pong and reek.
What part of speech is “smell”?
Depending on how it is used, “smell” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “smell” come from?
The word “smell” comes from Middle English. From Middle English smellen, of Germanic origin, ultimately tied to an old root meaning "to smoulder or emit fumes.".
Is “smell” a common word?
“Smell” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “smell” have?
“Smell” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sensation caused by breathing in odor particles, pleasant or unpleasant.
What is the difference between smell and odour?
'Smell' is the neutral, everyday word for any sensation detected through the nose, good or bad. 'Odour' usually suggests a stronger and often unpleasant smell. Both describe the same basic experience of breathing in scent particles, but 'odour' carries a slightly more clinical or negative tone.
Is smell one of the five senses?
Yes. Smell, known technically as olfaction, is one of the five traditional senses alongside sight, hearing, taste, and touch. It works when odour molecules in the air reach receptors high inside the nose, which send signals to the brain to be identified as a particular smell.
What are the types of smell?
Researchers have proposed grouping smells into broad categories such as fragrant or floral, fruity, minty, sweet, woody, chemical, pungent, and decayed. In everyday use, though, most people simply divide smells into pleasant ones, like coffee or flowers, and unpleasant ones, like smoke or rot.
Why do people lose their sense of smell?
A lost or reduced sense of smell can result from nasal congestion, colds, allergies, sinus problems, head injuries, ageing, or certain illnesses and infections. Because smell and taste are closely linked, losing it often makes food seem bland. In many cases the sense returns once the cause clears.