Reek Definition and Meaning
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Published on April 30, 2025
Reek refers to a strong, unpleasant smell. e.g., The abandoned house seemed to reek of mold and decay.
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Reek Definitions
A strong and very unpleasant smell.
A stench of rotten eggs filled the room, indicating a gas leak.
A bad smell; stinky scent.
The malodor of spoiled milk made him gag.
To emit a strong, foul odor.
The garbage left outside began to reek in the summer heat.
A strong, foul smell; stink.
The fetor from the waste treatment plant was overwhelming.
A feeling of sickness with an inclination to vomit, often caused by bad smells.
The reek of the spoiled food caused her nausea.
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A strong bad smell.
The stink of the locker room was a clear sign it needed a deep clean.
A distinct smell, especially an unpleasant one.
The odor of damp was pervasive in the basement.
To give off a strong unpleasant odor
"Grandma, who reeks of face powder and lilac water" (Garrison Keillor).
To be pervaded by something unpleasant
"This document ... reeks of self-pity and self-deception" (Christopher Hitchens).
Chiefly British To smoke, steam, or fume.
A strong offensive odor; a stench.
Chiefly British Smoke or vapor.
A strong unpleasant smell.
(Scotland) Vapour; steam; smoke; fume.
(Ireland) A hill; a mountain.
(intransitive) To have or give off a strong, unpleasant smell.
You reek of perfume.
Your fridge reeks of egg.
To be evidently associated with something unpleasant.
The boss appointing his nephew as a director reeks of nepotism.
To be emitted or exhaled, emanate, as of vapour or perfume.
To emit smoke or vapour; to steam.
A rick.
Vapor; steam; smoke; fume.
As hateful to me as the reek of a limekiln.
To emit vapor, usually that which is warm and moist; to be full of fumes; to steam; to smoke; to exhale.
Few chimneys reeking you shall espy.
I found me laidIn balmy sweat, which with his beams the sunSoon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed.
The coffee rooms reeked with tobacco.
A distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant
Have an element suggestive (of something);
His speeches smacked of racism
Smell badly and offensively;
The building reeks of smoke
Be wet with sweat or blood, as of one's face
Give off smoke, fumes, warm vapour, steam, etc.;
Marshes reeking in the sun
A highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor.
A miasma of pollution hung over the city.
A sharp, strong taste or smell.
The pungency of the cheese was too much for some to handle.
The quality of being very unpleasant to smell.
The foulness of the stagnant water deterred people from approaching the pond.
Reek Snonyms
Malodor
A bad odor.
The malodor of the sewers invaded the streets.
Fetor
An offensive smell, typically from decay.
The fetor of decaying flesh can be unbearable.
Pungency
The quality of having a strong, sharp smell or flavor.
The pungency of the spices made her eyes water.
Stench
A strong, unpleasant smell.
The stench from the dumpster was detectable from a block away.
Miasma
A noxious atmosphere or influence.
A miasma of smoke covered the area after the fire.
Stink
A strong bad smell.
There was a noticeable stink of fish in the market.
Whiff
A brief or faint smell, usually unpleasant.
A whiff of rotten eggs alerted them to a possible gas leak.
Nausea
A feeling of sickness with an inclination to vomit, often caused by bad smells.
The reek of the spoiled food caused her nausea.
Odor
Any smell, especially an unpleasant one.
An unsettling odor emanated from the abandoned vehicle.
Foulness
The condition of being foul, in terms of smell.
The foulness of the air made it hard to breathe.
Reek Idioms & Phrases
Reek of desperation
To seem very desperate.
His attempts to impress were so excessive they reeked of desperation.
Reek of guilt
To seem very guilty.
She avoided eye contact, reeking of guilt.
Reek havoc
To cause a lot of trouble or damage.
The storm reeked havoc across the coast.
Reek Example Sentences
They tried to cover the reek with air fresheners.
He could reek the dampness in the basement from the top of the stairs.
The reek from the landfill could be overwhelming on hot days.
Old books have a distinctive reek that some find appealing.
Perfume couldn't mask the reek of smoke on her clothes.
The reek of the chemical spill was detectable miles away.
The reek from the sewage plant affected the nearby neighborhoods.
The reek of rotten vegetables filled the abandoned market.
The reek of sweat was evident in the crowded room.
The reek of gasoline alerted them to the leak.
Pets can sometimes leave a reek in the home.
A reek of decay permeated the old house.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called reek?
"Reek" is called so due to its Old English roots, meaning to smoke, fume, or emit vapor, typically with a strong or unpleasant smell.
How many syllables are in reek?
There is one syllable in "reek."
How do we divide reek into syllables?
It's divided as reek.
What is the first form of reek?
The first form is "reek."
What is a stressed syllable in reek?
The entire word "reek" is stressed, being only one syllable.
How is reek used in a sentence?
The entire house began to reek after the power outage left the fridge off for days.
What is the second form of reek?
The second form is "reeked."
What is another term for reek?
Another term is "stench."
What is the verb form of reek?
The verb form is "reek," as in to emit a strong, unpleasant smell.
What is the root word of reek?
The root word is "reek," derived from Old English "rēocan," meaning to smoke or emit vapor.
What is the third form of reek?
The third form is also "reeked."
What is the singular form of reek?
The singular form is "reek" when used as a noun.
Is reek an abstract noun?
No, as a noun, reek refers to a tangible, perceivable smell.
Is the word reek Gerund?
No, reek is not typically used as a gerund.
Is the word “reek” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Reek" can serve as a direct object in sentences where something smells strongly.
Which vowel is used before reek?
There's no specific vowel used before "reek"; it depends on the preceding word.
What is the pronunciation of reek?
It's pronounced as /riːk/.
What is the plural form of reek?
The plural form is "reeks" when referring to multiple instances of unpleasant smells.
Is reek a noun or adjective?
Reek can be a noun (referring to a smell) and a verb (to emit a smell), but it is not an adjective.
Is reek a countable noun?
As a noun, reek can be considered countable when referring to specific types of smells.
What part of speech is reek?
It is both a verb (to emit a strong odor) and a noun (a strong odor).
Is reek an adverb?
No, reek is not an adverb.
Is reek a negative or positive word?
Reek is typically used in a negative context to describe unpleasant smells.
Is the reek term a metaphor?
"Reek" can be used metaphorically to describe something that is strongly perceived as negative or unpleasant.
Is the word reek imperative?
"Reek" can be used in an imperative form in commands, but it's uncommon.
Which conjunction is used with reek?
Conjunctions such as "and" can connect "reek" with other nouns or adjectives.
Which article is used with reek?
The article "the" is commonly used with "reek" to refer to a specific smell.
What is the opposite of reek?
The opposite of "reek" might be "fragrance" or "aroma."
Is reek a vowel or consonant?
The word "reek" starts with a consonant.
Is reek a collective noun?
No, reek is not a collective noun.
Which determiner is used with reek?
Determiners like "the" or "a" can be used with "reek" depending on the context.
Which preposition is used with reek?
Prepositions like "of" are commonly used with "reek" to indicate the source of the smell.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
