1 B2 neutral
To draw air or a substance into the nose by sniffing.
"She sniffed up the sharp smell of pine needles as she walked through the forest."
separable
sniff up
C1 informal separable transitive
To inhale something through the nose, either literally or (informally) referring to drug use.
In plain English
To breathe something in through your nose.
What does "sniff up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 informal
(Informal) To inhale a substance through the nose, often referring to illicit drug use.
"The documentary showed the dangers of sniffing up solvents or other substances."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To sniff (inhale through the nose) in an upward direction — largely transparent.
Actually means
To breathe something in through your nose.
Usage tip
The literal sense (sniffing up a scent or liquid) is fairly rare in standard usage. Informally and with a negative connotation, it can refer to inhaling illegal substances. Less common than 'snort' in this context. ESL learners should be aware of both meanings.
Words that pair with "sniff up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
scent air vapour substance dust
How to conjugate "sniff up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sniff up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sniffs up
he/she/it
Past simple
sniffed up
yesterday
Past participle
sniffed up
have + pp
-ing form
sniffing up
continuous
Hear "sniff up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "sniff up"
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