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smell out

2 syllables

Quick answer

As a verb, smell out means recognize or detect by or as if by smelling.

Meanings of smell out

2 meanings

Recognize or detect by or as if by smelling
“He can smell out trouble”
Similar: sniff out, scent out, nose out
Become aware of not through the senses but instinctively
“I sense his hostility”
“I smell trouble”
“smell out corruption”
Similar: smell, sense

Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).

verb: recognize or detect by or as if by smelling

sniff outscent outnose out

verb: become aware of not through the senses but instinctively