sneeze
verb
\ ˈsnēz
\
\
sneezed;
sneezing
Definition of sneeze
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to make a sudden violent spasmodic audible expiration of breath through the nose and mouth especially as a reflex act
sneeze at
informal
: to make light of
—always used in negative statements to indicate something that is important or deserves attention
…a red ribbon for second place is not to be sneezed at or scorned.— Richard Peck Perquisites and severance pay are nothing to sneeze at [=are significant]
sneeze
nounDefinition of sneeze (Entry 2 of 2)
: an act or instance of sneezing
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Examples of sneeze in a Sentence
Verb
She was constantly sneezing and coughing.Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Must sneeze on demand, cough on cue, and fall into coma at will. — Keaton Patti, The New Yorker, "Commercial Casting Breakdowns," 16 Aug. 2019 One tractor-trailer was stopped in the right breakdown lane when Andre Cassidy of Windsor, Quebec, who was driving past in another tractor-trailer, sneezed and swerved, police said. — Sophia Eppolito, BostonGlobe.com, "Truck crash starts fire on I-93 north in New Hampshire," 3 July 2019 The measles virus spreads when patients cough or sneeze, and remains active in the environment for several hours. — Benjamin Kagina, Quartz Africa, "DR Congo’s Ebola crisis has led to children dying from measles," 12 July 2019 Measles, spread by sneezing and coughing, is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. — Laura J. Nelson, latimes.com, "Westside theater and restaurant patrons may have been exposed to measles, officials say," 23 June 2019 His 4:14 is nothing to sneeze at, that’s a really great time and 1:54 is a great time. — Craig Clary, baltimoresun.com, "Dulaney's Drew Dailey is 2019 Towson Times Male Athlete of the Year," 11 June 2019 While the jury is still out on exactly how far germs can spread through the air, the CDC says that viruses like the flu can travel 6 feet as people cough, sneeze, and talk. — Colleen Stinchcombe, SELF, "These 7 Things at Your Office Are Especially Germy," 22 Feb. 2019 Granted, the days when Lincoln Road’s garmentos sneezed and fashionable women everywhere caught a cold, when department stores such as Bonwit Teller dominated the strip, are long gone—as faded as last year’s tan. — Horacio Silva, Town & Country, "A Guide to Miami's Chicest Shopping Districts," 30 Nov. 2018 The fireworks are nothing to sneeze at, either—an impressive array of pyrotechnics are shot from barges along the Charles River. — Jenna Scherer, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best 4th of July Fireworks in the USA," 27 June 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
As Meg Anderson, Haley Day, and Katie Grenier practiced their routine, Grenier slipped carelessly out of sync, took a moment from supporting a lift to stifle a sneeze, and finally broke away entirely to snack on a bag of chips. — Karen Campbell, BostonGlobe.com, "Provocation and playfulness in Boston Contemporary Dance Festival performances," 11 Aug. 2019 The sneeze reflex is usually activated when your nose’s mucous membranes are irritated. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "Quick Question: Why Do We Sneeze?," 8 Mar. 2019 That would have made Wednesday’s roiling of financial markets look like a sneeze. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, "Edward Lotterman: Hooray for complexity in the Federal Reserve’s structure," 3 Aug. 2019 Bicker about the tidying-up or gripe about Dad’s loud sneeze? — Ivan Brett, New York Times, "5 Games to Help Make Your Vacation Great," 23 July 2019 Globe subluxation can be triggered by trauma, eyelid manipulation, or, in theory, something like forcing yourself to keep your eyes open during an extremely powerful sneeze, Dr. Steele says. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Can You Sneeze With Your Eyes Open?," 22 Mar. 2019 Esti’s most meaningful moment of communication with her grandfather, who, like Howland’s grandparents, spoke Yiddish, was a sneeze. — Abigail Deutsch, Harper's magazine, "Bette on the Blues," 22 July 2019 Advertising Measles, which can cause fever, rash and red, watery eyes, is highly contagious and spreads quickly through the air after a cough or sneeze. — Asia Fields, The Seattle Times, "2 more measles cases in King County, bringing total to 12 in Puget Sound outbreak," 11 July 2019 When your body perceives a threat, like the influenza virus your coworker just sprayed into the air via a forceful sneeze, your body ideally produces an immune response to neutralize it. — Patia Braithwaite, SELF, "What Even Causes ITP?," 21 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sneeze.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for sneeze
sneeze
verb
English Language Learners Definition of sneeze
: to suddenly force air out through your nose and mouth with a usually loud noise because your body is reacting to dust, a sickness, etc.
See the full definition for sneeze in the English Language Learners Dictionary
sneeze
verb
\ ˈsnēz
\
\
sneezed;
sneezing
Kids Definition of sneeze
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to force the breath out in a sudden and noisy way
sneeze
nounKids Definition of sneeze (Entry 2 of 2)
: an act or instance of sneezing
sneeze
intransitive verb
\ ˈsnēz
\
\
sneezed;
sneezing
Medical Definition of sneeze
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to make a sudden violent spasmodic audible expiration of breath through the nose and mouth especially as a reflex act following irritation of the nasal mucous membrane
sneeze
nounMedical Definition of sneeze (Entry 2 of 2)
: an act or instance of sneezing