1 B1 neutral
To find or locate something by following its smell.
"The police dog smelled out the hidden stash of drugs within minutes."
separable
smell out
B2 informal separable transitive
To detect or discover something by using the sense of smell, or by instinct and keen perception.
In plain English
To find something by smelling it, or to sense that something is wrong or hidden.
What does "smell out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To detect or discover something hidden or suspicious through instinct or perception.
"She had a talent for smelling out dishonesty in people she had just met."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To fill a place with a bad or strong smell.
"The fish he was cooking smelled out the entire flat."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To find something by following the smell out to its source.
Actually means
To find something by smelling it, or to sense that something is wrong or hidden.
Usage tip
Used both literally (a dog smelling out a hidden substance) and figuratively (a journalist smelling out corruption). The figurative sense is common in British English. Also used to mean filling a space with a bad smell.
Words that pair with "smell out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
corruption truth drugs trail secret prey
How to conjugate "smell out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
smell out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
smells out
he/she/it
Past simple
smelled out
yesterday
Past participle
smelled out
have + pp
-ing form
smelling out
continuous
Hear "smell out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "smell out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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