whiff
2 synonyms and 0 antonyms for whiff, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A brief smell carried through the air, or a light gust of air.
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 whiff
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
The noun is possibly: * partly a variant of Middle English wef, weffe (“bad smell, stench, stink; exhalation; vapour; tendency of something to go bad (?)”) [and other forms], possibly a variant of either: ** waf, waif, waife (“odour, scent”), possibly from waven (“to move to and fro, sway, wave; to stray, wander; to mo...
Full origin of whiff →Frequently asked questions
What does “whiff” mean?
The word “whiff” means a brief smell carried through the air, or a light gust of air. In plain terms, a brief, faint trace of a smell — or, more loosely, a faint hint of some feeling or situation.
How do you pronounce “whiff”?
“Whiff” is pronounced wihf (/(h)wɪf/ in IPA).
How do you use “whiff” in a sentence?
Here is “whiff” used in a sentence: “A whiff of fresh bread drifted out of the bakery door.”
What part of speech is “whiff”?
“Whiff” is a noun.
Is “whiff” a common word?
“Whiff” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “whiff” have?
“Whiff” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a brief smell carried through the air, or a light gust of air.