adjective Uncommon

smoky

SMOH-kee

Smoky (adjective) means Filled with or giving off smoke. Example: “The bar had a smoky atmosphere before the ban.”

adjective

Filled with or giving off smoke.

"The bar had a smoky atmosphere before the ban."

Having a flavor or aroma like smoke.

"The barbecue sauce had a rich, smoky taste."

Of a deep, raspy voice quality.

"She sang in a low, smoky voice."

How to use smoky

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFilled with smoke, tasting or smelling of smoke, or (of a voice) low and raspy.

Easily confused with

smokey →

Common pairings

smoky flavor smoky room smoky voice

Word forms

smokier comparative, smokiest superlative

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The bar had a _____ atmosphere before the ban.

Etymology

From smoke plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.

Rhymes for smoky

kooky hooky looky spooky

See all rhymes for smoky →

Frequently asked questions

What does “smoky” mean?

The word “smoky” means filled with or giving off smoke. In plain terms, filled with smoke, tasting or smelling of smoke, or (of a voice) low and raspy.

How do you pronounce “smoky”?

“Smoky” is pronounced SMOH-kee (/ˈsmoʊki/ in IPA).

How do you use “smoky” in a sentence?

Here is “smoky” used in a sentence: “The bar had a smoky atmosphere before the ban.”

What part of speech is “smoky”?

“Smoky” is an adjective.

Is “smoky” a common word?

“Smoky” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “smoky” have?

“Smoky” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: filled with or giving off smoke.