Meaning & use

scent

noun·Everyday

A distinctive smell, especially one that is pleasant or that an animal can track.

See it in a sentence

The scent of fresh bread drifted from the bakery down the street.

The dog picked up the scent and led its handler through the woods.

A note on using this word

Slightly more literary or delicate than 'smell,' which can also describe unpleasant odors.

Words with a similar meaning

fragrancearomasmell

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To detect something by its smell, or to sense that something is about to happen.

The hikers scented smoke long before they saw the wildfire.

Make it your own

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