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

As it gets worse, you start sneezing and coughing.

From BBC

TB is bacterial infection spread through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person.

From BBC

"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

“I have to start having a long look at myself when players start getting injured sneezing,” Evatt added.

From BBC