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to sniff
01
to inhale air audibly through the nose, often to detect or identify a scent or odor
Transitive: to sniff a scent or odor
Examples
Dogs often sniff the ground to gather information about their surroundings.
He regularly sniffs the air to determine what's cooking in the kitchen.
02
to breathe in through the nose audibly to clear mucus or other substances from the nasal passages and prevent a runny nose
Intransitive
Examples
He sniffed loudly to clear his nose after being outside in the cold.
Whenever she felt congested, she would sniff to try to alleviate the discomfort.
03
to express disapproval or contempt towards something or someone in a disdainful or critical manner, often by making a sniffing sound
Transitive: to sniff at an idea or action
Examples
She sniffed at the idea, saying it was impractical.
He sniffed in disapproval at the sight of the messy room.
04
to consume drugs by inhaling them through the nose
Transitive: to sniff a drug
SlangExamples
The police suspected that the man was sniffing cocaine when they noticed white powder around his nostrils.
Some individuals mistakenly believe that sniffing prescription drugs is safer than injecting them.
Sniff
01
sensing an odor by inhaling through the nose
