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Irregular verb

smell

/smel/

Base
smell
Past simple
smelled / smelt
Past participle
smelled / smelt

Usage

Both smelled and smelt are correct; smelt is more common in British English and smelled in American English.

Meaning

  • to notice or produce an odour

Example

We smelt fresh coffee in the kitchen.

She smelled the milk before pouring it.

The room has smelled of paint all week.