whiff

noun
UK: /wɪf/
US: /wɪf/

  1. A slight smell, carried on the air.

    1. I caught a whiff of perfume as she walked by.
    2. There was a distinct whiff of something burning coming from the kitchen indicating a potential cooking mishap.

  2. A brief puff or gust of air.

    1. A whiff of wind blew through the open window.
    2. The sudden whiff of cold air announced the arrival of the storm front bringing with it a drop in temperature.

  3. A hint or trace of something.

    1. There's a whiff of scandal surrounding the politician.
    2. The project retained a whiff of its original ambitions despite subsequent modifications and compromises.

Synonyms

odor smell scent aroma hint trace puff breath
whiff verb

  1. To smell something briefly or faintly.

    1. I whiffed the roses in the garden.
    2. She whiffed a strange odor and quickly realized that something was amiss inside the lab.

  2. To blow or puff gently.

    1. The breeze whiffed through the trees.
    2. A gentle breeze whiffed through the curtains filling the room with a soft and refreshing coolness.
whiff intransitive-verb

  1. To be propelled through the air quickly.

    1. The ball whiffed past my head.
    2. The arrow whiffed by the target a mere millimeter away causing the crowd to gasp in amazement.
whiff transitive-verb

  1. To inhale (air, smoke, etc.)

    1. He whiffed the smoke from his pipe.
    2. She enjoyed whiffing the fresh country air during her morning walk in the countryside.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "whiff" in English means: A slight smell, carried on the air., A brief puff or gust of air., A hint or trace of something..

The phonetic transcription of "whiff" is /wɪf/ in British English and /wɪf/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "whiff": odor, smell, scent, aroma, hint, trace, puff, breath.

Example usage of "whiff": "I caught a whiff of perfume as she walked by.". More examples on the page.