reek

1 of 2

noun

ˈrēk 

1

chiefly dialectal : smoke

2

: vapor, fog

3

: a strong or disagreeable fume or odor

reek

2 of 2

verb

reeked; reeking; reeks

intransitive verb

1

: to emit smoke or vapor

2

a

: to give off or become permeated with a strong or offensive odor

a room reeking of incense

b

: to give a strong impression of some constituent quality or feature

a neighborhood that reeks of poverty

3

: emanate

transitive verb

1

: to subject to the action of smoke or vapor

2

: exude, give off

a politician who reeks charm

reeker noun

reeky

ˈrē-kē 

adjective

Synonyms

Noun

• funk
• stench
• stink

Verb

• stink

Examples of reek in a Sentence

Noun

a terrible reek coming from the garbage can

couldn't see through the reek of smog and smoke surrounding the steel plant

Verb

those old sneakers reek something awful

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That neither Katherine nor Owen is compelled to buy into the social contract of the residency is one of several reasons Lonely Planet reeks of a kind of evil not otherwise found in this year’s crop of age-gap romances. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024

Biden’s pardon is so broad it reeks of dishonesty and irresponsibility. —Nicole Russell, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024

Verb

In the first, researchers found in 2007 that Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers that served as emergency shelters for many displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita reeked of formaldehyde. —Topher Sanders, ProPublica, 9 Dec. 2024

The fan base’s organizational distrust, though, was such that the transaction reeked of conspiracy. —Chad Jennings, The Athletic, 9 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English rek, from Old English rēc; akin to Old High German rouh smoke

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Kids Definition

reek

1 of 2 noun

ˈrēk 

1

: vapor sense 1, fog

2

: a strong or disagreeable fume or odor

reek

2 of 2 verb

1

: to give off smoke or vapor

2

a

: to have a strong or unpleasant smell

the kitchen reeks of garlic

clothes reeking of tobacco smoke

b

: to give a strong impression of some feature or quality

she reeks of snobbery

reeky

ˈrē-kē 

adjective