- (intransitive) to expel air and nasal secretions from the nose involuntarily, esp as the result of irritation of the nasal mucous membrane
- the act or sound of sneezing
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
sneeze /sniz/USA pronunciation
v., sneezed, sneez•ing, n.
v.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v.
- Pathology, Physiology to produce air or breath suddenly, forcibly, and loudly through the nose and mouth by involuntary action:[no object]She sneezed whenever she came near cats.
- sneeze at, [~ + at + object;
usually with a negative word or expression][Informal.]to treat with contempt;
scorn:$50,000 is nothing to sneeze at.
n. [countable]
- Physiologyan act or sound of sneezing.
sneeze
(snēz),USA pronunciation v., sneezed, sneez•ing, n.
v.i.
n.
sneeze′less, adj.
sneez′er, n.
sneez′y, adj.
v.i.
- Pathology, Physiologyto emit air or breath suddenly, forcibly, and audibly through the nose and mouth by involuntary, spasmodic action.
- sneeze at, [Informal.]to treat with contempt;
scorn:$50,000 is nothing to sneeze at.
n.
- Physiologyan act or sound of sneezing.
- 1485–95; earlier snese; replacing Middle English fnese, Old English fnēosan; cognate with Dutch fniezen, Old Norse fnȳsa
sneez′er, n.
sneez′y, adj.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
sneeze /sniːz/ vb
'sneeze' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):