Noun a terrible reek coming from the garbage can couldn't see through the reek of smog and smoke surrounding the steel plant Verb those old sneakers reek something awful
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Still, the stunts—then as now—reek of exploitation, and the victims are those least equipped to resist. Philip Elliott, Time, 16 Sep. 2022 Though certain men have glamour—Idris Elba and Harry Styles both reek of it—there is no denying that glamour is essentially female in nature. Simon Doonan, ELLE Decor, 25 Aug. 2022 In June, the wharf was stacked high with lobster traps tinging the breeze with the faint reek of their latest catch. Murray Whyte, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Aug. 2022 The judge referred to is Obama appointee Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, whose prior decisions, in my view, largely reek of left-wing activism.orlandosentinel.com, 8 Apr. 2022 His 35-inch vertical leap and 4.32 shuttle time reek of explosion and agility. Tyler J. Davis, Detroit Free Press, 22 Mar. 2022 And while Campion's victory represents progress for female recognition in the arts, her comments reek of white privilege, ignoring intersectional challenges faced by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour). Alicia Vrajlal, refinery29.com, 15 Mar. 2022 The volcanic lands of dragons reek of sulfur and smog.Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2022 Chateaus, villas and trophy cult wines that reek of privilege, entitlement and wealth.Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2022
Verb
Siefertson also complained that a few days after testing positive, his cabin and two other cabins near him began to reek of sewage.CNN, 7 May 2022 Such social engineering, and patrician largesse, can reek of neo-colonialism—a charge that Shuttleworth doesn’t dismiss. Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2022 In addition to the area’s stifling heat, the pools reek of rotten eggs. Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 22 Dec. 2021 Even his hobbies and personal habits reek of transaction.New York Times, 2 Nov. 2021 Universities allegedly reek with positive spillover effects. Richard Vedder, Forbes, 7 June 2021 Most importantly, the bad losses can reek like days-old gym socks.San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2021 Bruised, bloodied, and reeking of fuel, the three men were handcuffed in the back of a police truck and driven to a hospital in Toluca. Seth Harp, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2020 Bruised, bloodied, and reeking of fuel, the three men were handcuffed in the back of a police truck and driven to a hospital in Toluca. Seth Harp, Harper's magazine, 2 Mar. 2020 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English rek, from Old English rēc; akin to Old High German rouh smoke
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1