noun
reek
reek
Reek (noun) means a strong, unpleasant smell. Example: “The reek of stale beer hung over the pub the next morning.”
noun
1
A strong, unpleasant smell.
"The reek of stale beer hung over the pub the next morning."
verb
1
To give off a strong, unpleasant odor.
"His clothes reeked of cigarette smoke."
2
To be strongly suggestive of something bad or suspicious.
"The whole deal reeked of corruption."
How to use reek
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo smell strongly and unpleasantly, or figuratively, to seem clearly tainted by something bad.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
reek of smoke
reek of corruption
a foul reek
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Word forms
- Plural
- reeks
- Third person singular
- reeks
- Past tense
- reeked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of stale beer hung over the pub the next morning.
Etymology
From Old English rec, \"smoke,\" related to German Rauch.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for reek
See all rhymes for reek →Frequently asked questions
What does “reek” mean?
The word “reek” means a strong, unpleasant smell. In plain terms, to smell strongly and unpleasantly, or figuratively, to seem clearly tainted by something bad.
How do you pronounce “reek”?
“Reek” is pronounced reek (/riːk/ in IPA).
How do you use “reek” in a sentence?
Here is “reek” used in a sentence: “The reek of stale beer hung over the pub the next morning.”
What is another word for “reek”?
Words with a similar meaning to “reek” include funk, honk, niff, hum, pong and smell.
What is the opposite of “reek”?
The opposite of “reek” — its antonyms — are defunkify, destinkify and deodorize.
What part of speech is “reek”?
Depending on how it is used, “reek” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “reek” come from?
The word “reek” comes from Old English. From Old English rec, \"smoke,\" related to German Rauch.
How many meanings does “reek” have?
“Reek” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strong, unpleasant smell.
