Whiff

/wɪf/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A light gust of air or a faint smell.

She caught a whiff of perfume as she walked past the store.

A quick or slight indication of something.

He got a whiff of the excitement in the room before the announcement was made.

A brief, passing sensation or impression.

There was a whiff of nostalgia as he opened the old photo album.

verb

To inhale or smell something briefly.

He whiffed the flowers in the garden, enjoying their fragrance.

To make a quick or slight attempt to perform something.

She whiffed at the ball but missed it completely.

Possibly of 16th-century English origin, from 'whiff' meaning 'to puff or blow' or 'a slight blast of air.'

whiff of fresh air

A refreshing change or break from a routine.

give a whiff

To allow someone to smell something briefly.

catch a whiff

To suddenly smell something.

aroma

A distinctive, pleasant smell, often associated with food or drink.

fragrance

A sweet or pleasant smell, often used for perfumes.

odor

A distinctive smell, often unpleasant.

A term used in sports, especially baseball, indicating a missed opportunity.

He swung at the pitch but got a whiff.

To take a quick smell of something, often in a casual or informal manner.

She gave a whiff of the cookies to see if they were done.