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verb B1 Intermediate Uncommon

sneeze

sneez

Sneeze (verb) means to suddenly and forcefully expel air through the nose and mouth, usually from irritation. Example: “She sneezed three times in a row because of the pollen.”

verb
1
To suddenly and forcefully expel air through the nose and mouth, usually from irritation.
"She sneezed three times in a row because of the pollen."
"Cover your mouth when you sneeze."
noun
1
The act or sound of sneezing.
"That was a loud sneeze."

How to use sneeze

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe reflex where air suddenly bursts out through your nose and mouth.

Common pairings
sneeze into a tissue a violent sneeze sneeze uncontrollably

Word forms

sneezed past tense, snoze past tense, snozen past tense, sneezes plural, sneezes singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ three times in a row because of the pollen.

Etymology

From an older English word fnēosan ("to sneeze, snort") — the initial "fn-" sound gradually shifted to "sn-" in English, the same change seen in "snore" and "snort."

Related words

Rhymes for sneeze

See all rhymes for sneeze →

Frequently asked questions

What does “sneeze” mean?

The word “sneeze” means to suddenly and forcefully expel air through the nose and mouth, usually from irritation. In plain terms, the reflex where air suddenly bursts out through your nose and mouth.

How do you pronounce “sneeze”?

“Sneeze” is pronounced sneez (/sniːz/ in IPA).

How do you use “sneeze” in a sentence?

Here is “sneeze” used in a sentence: “She sneezed three times in a row because of the pollen.”

What part of speech is “sneeze”?

Depending on how it is used, “sneeze” can be a verb and a noun.

Is “sneeze” a common word?

“Sneeze” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “sneeze” have?

“Sneeze” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to suddenly and forcefully expel air through the nose and mouth, usually from irritation.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial