Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense reeks, present participle reeking, past tense, past participle reeked
1. verb
To reekof something, usually something unpleasant, means to smell very strongly of it.
He came home reeking of fish. [VERB + of]
The entire house reeked for a long time. [VERB]
Reek is also a noun.
...the reek of bad drainage. [+ of]
2. verb
If you say that something reeksof unpleasant ideas, feelings, or practices, you disapprove of it because it gives a strong impression that it involves those ideas, feelings, or practices.
[disapproval]
The whole thing reeks of hypocrisy. [VERB + of]
Synonyms: be redolent of, suggest, smack of, testify to More Synonyms of reek
More Synonyms of reek
reek in British English
(riːk)
verb
1. (intransitive)
to give off or emit a strong unpleasant odour; smell or stink
2. (intransitive; often foll byof)
to be permeated (by); be redolent (of)
the letter reeks of subservience
3. (transitive)
to treat with smoke; fumigate
4. (transitive) mainly dialect
to give off or emit (smoke, fumes, vapour, etc)
noun
5.
a strong offensive smell; stink
6. mainly dialect
smoke or steam; vapour
Derived forms
reeking (ˈreeking)
adjective
reekingly (ˈreekingly)
adverb
reeky (ˈreeky)
adjective
Word origin
Old English rēocan; related to Old Frisian riāka to smoke, Old High German rouhhan, Old Norse rjūka to smoke, steam
reek in American English
(rik)
noun
1.
vapor; fume
2.
a strong, unpleasant smell; stench
3. Scottish and North England
smoke
verb intransitive
4.
to give off steam or smoke
5.
to have a strong, offensive smell
6.
to be permeated with anything very unpleasant
verb transitive
7.
to expose to the action of smoke or fumes
8.
to emit or exude (vapor, fumes, etc.)
Derived forms
reeky (ˈreeky)
adjective
Word origin
ME < OE rec, akin to ON reykr, Ger rauch < ? IE base *reug-, cloud, smoke
Examples of 'reek' in a sentence
reek
The whole episode simply reeks of hypocrisy.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You might be inured to the smell, so ask a blunt friend whether your house reeks of dog.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
reek
British English: reek VERB
To reek of something, usually something unpleasant, means to smell very strongly of it.
The hotel lobby reeked of disinfectant.
American English: reek
Brazilian Portuguese: cheirar
Chinese: 散发出强烈难闻的气味
European Spanish: apestar
French: puer
German: riechen
Italian: puzzare
Japanese: 悪臭を放つ
Korean: 악취를 풍기다
European Portuguese: cheirar
Latin American Spanish: apestar
1 (verb)
Definition
to give off a strong unpleasant smell
Your breath reeks.
Synonyms
stink
We all stank and nobody minded.
smell
Do my feet smell?
pong (British, informal)
smell to high heaven
hum (slang)
2 (verb)
Definition
to give a strong suggestion of
The whole thing reeks of hypocrisy.
Synonyms
be redolent of
suggest
Its hairy body suggests a mammal.
smack of
testify to
be characterized by
have all the hallmarks of
bear the stamp of
be permeated by
be suggestive or indicative of
3 (verb)
Definition
to give off smoke or fumes
(dialect)
Synonyms
smoke
The rubble was still smoking.
steam
fume
give off smoke or fumes
1 (noun)
Definition
a strong unpleasant smell
He smelt the reek of rotten food.
Synonyms
stink
The stink was overpowering.
smell
horrible smells
odour
the faint odour of garlic on his breath
stench
The stench of burning rubber was overpowering.
pong (British, informal)
effluvium
niff (British, slang)
malodour
mephitis
fetor
2 (noun)
Definition
smoke or steam
(dialect)
Synonyms
smoke
The air was thick with cigarette smoke.
steam
The heat converts water into high-pressure steam.
fumes
vapour
a cloud of poisonous vapour
exhalation
These plants give off a poisonous exhalation at night.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of effluvium
Definition
an unpleasant smell, such as the smell of decaying matter
Synonyms
smell,
exhaust,
fumes,
stink,
odour,
stench,
reek,
pong (British, informal),
miasma,
exhalation,
niff (British, slang),
malodour,
mephitis
in the sense of exhalation
These plants give off a poisonous exhalation at night.
Synonyms
emission,
fume,
exhaust,
smoke,
steam,
discharge,
mist,
fog,
vapour,
evaporation,
emanation,
effluvium
in the sense of odour
Definition
a particular and distinctive scent or smell
the faint odour of garlic on his breath
Synonyms
smell,
scent,
perfume,
fragrance,
stink,
bouquet,
aroma,
whiff,
stench,
pong (British, informal),
niff (British, slang),
redolence,
malodour,
fetor
Nearby words of
reek
redundancy
redundant
reef
reek
reel
reel something off
refer
Synonyms of 'reek'
reek
Explore 'reek' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of smell
Definition
to give off an unpleasant odour
Do my feet smell?
Synonyms
stink,
reek,
pong (British, informal),
hum (slang),
whiff (British, slang),
stink to high heaven (informal),
niff (British, slang),
be malodorous
in the sense of smell
Definition
an odour or scent
horrible smells
Synonyms
stink,
stench,
reek,
pong (British, informal),
niff (British, slang),
malodour,
fetor
in the sense of steam
Definition
(of a vehicle) to move by steam power
The heat converts water into high-pressure steam.
Synonyms
vapour,
mist,
condensation,
moisture
in the sense of stench
Definition
a strong and very unpleasant smell
The stench of burning rubber was overpowering.
Synonyms
stink,
whiff (British, slang),
reek,
pong (British, informal),
foul smell,
niff (British, slang),
malodour,
mephitis,
noisomeness
in the sense of suggest
Definition
to bring (a person or thing) to the mind by the association of ideas
Its hairy body suggests a mammal.
Synonyms
bring to mind,
evoke,
remind you of,
smack of,
connote,
make you think of,
put you in mind of
in the sense of vapour
Definition
a mass of tiny drops of water or other liquids in the air, which appear as a mist