verb B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

stink

stihngk

Stink (verb) means to give off a strong, unpleasant smell. Example: “The bins outside the restaurant stink in the summer heat.”

verb

To give off a strong, unpleasant smell.

"The bins outside the restaurant stink in the summer heat."

To be very bad in quality (informal).

"Everyone agreed the movie's ending stank."

noun

A strong bad smell.

"There was a stink of rotten eggs coming from the drain."

A fuss, complaint, or public objection (informal).

"She raised a stink about the parking charges at the meeting."

How to use stink

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo smell bad, be bad in quality, or (as a noun) a fuss or complaint.

Common pairings

stink of smoke raise a stink stink to high heaven

Word forms

more stink comparative, stank past tense, stunk past tense, stinks plural, stinks singular, most stink superlative

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The bins outside the restaurant _____ in the summer heat.

Etymology

From Old English stincan, from an ancient Germanic root meaning "to push or strike" — related to the idea of a smell "hitting" you.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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reek stench fetor foetor malodor malodour mephitis

Related words

mountain smoke smell funk aroma odour mephitis reek

Rhymes for stink

ink pink link mink sink wink kink dink fink rink tink bink

See all rhymes for stink →

Frequently asked questions

What does “stink” mean?

The word “stink” means to give off a strong, unpleasant smell. In plain terms, to smell bad, be bad in quality, or (as a noun) a fuss or complaint.

How do you pronounce “stink”?

“Stink” is pronounced stihngk (/stɪŋk/ in IPA).

How do you use “stink” in a sentence?

Here is “stink” used in a sentence: “The bins outside the restaurant stink in the summer heat.”

What part of speech is “stink”?

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

Where does the word “stink” come from?

The word “stink” comes from Old English. From Old English stincan, from an ancient Germanic root meaning "to push or strike" — related to the idea of a smell "hitting" you.

Is “stink” a common word?

“Stink” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “stink” have?

“Stink” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to give off a strong, unpleasant smell.

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mountain smoke smell funk aroma odour mephitis reek