sneeze

[ sneez ]

verb (used without object)

, sneezed, sneez·ing.

1. to emit air or breath suddenly, forcibly, and audibly through the nose and mouth by involuntary, spasmodic action.

noun

1. an act or sound of sneezing.

verb phrase

1. Informal. to treat with contempt; scorn:

   $50,000 is nothing to sneeze at.

sneeze

/ sniːz /

verb

1. intr to expel air and nasal secretions from the nose involuntarily, esp as the result of irritation of the nasal mucous membrane

noun

1. the act or sound of sneezing

Derived Forms

• ˈsneezer, noun
• ˈsneezy, adjective
• ˈsneezeless, adjective

Other Words From

• sneezeless adjective
• sneezer noun
• sneezy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sneeze¹

1485–95; earlier snese; replacing Middle English fnese, Old English fnēosan; cognate with Dutch fniezen, Old Norse fnȳsa

Word History and Origins

Origin of sneeze¹

Old English fnēosan (unattested); related to Old Norse fnӯsa, Middle High German fnūsen, Greek pneuma breath

Example Sentences

"It's like why we close our eyes when we sneeze - things we don't do on purpose but our body does to respond to a situation," she says.

From BBC

And dessert was nothing to sneeze at either.

From Salon

He was in a farm town where “if you sneeze, everybody knows about it,” Matlock half-joked.

From Los Angeles Times

Bolton Wanderers striker Victor Adeboyejo missed their EFL Trophy victory at Barrow on Tuesday having injured himself after a "hefty sneeze".

From BBC

The 26-year-old suffered a back injury on Monday which was set off by the sneeze, manager Ian Evatt said.

From BBC