sneeze

sneeze — verb

1. to suddenly push air out of the body through both the nose and the mouth in a sh

1.verbintransitiveA2
Definition

to suddenly push air out of the body through both the nose and the mouth in a short, uncontrolled reflex, usually set off by a cold, dust, or a strong smell

Example

Bilal sneezed loudly during the quiet exam, and everyone turned to look at him.

sneeze + adverb (loudly)

Whenever Naoko walks past the flower shop, the pollen makes her sneeze.

make + object + sneeze

Common collocations
  • sneeze loudly
  • sneeze suddenly
  • make someone sneeze
  • can not stop sneezing
  • sneeze into a tissue

Grammar Patterns

sneeze + adverb(optional)

make + object + sneeze

Usage Note

Always intransitive — you cannot 'sneeze something' directly. To describe where the air goes, use a prepositional phrase such as 'sneeze on', 'sneeze into', or 'sneeze over'. The fixed phrase 'nothing to sneeze at' is a separate idiom meaning 'worth considering seriously' and does not follow this sense's grammar.

Common Mistakes

He sneezed the dust off the table.
The dust on the table made him sneeze.
The verb 'sneeze' is intransitive; you cannot sneeze something directly.
I sneezed my cold to my brother.
I gave my cold to my brother.' or 'My sneeze spread the cold to my brother.
Spread of illness is expressed with 'give' or 'pass on', not 'sneeze + object'.
Idioms

not to be sneezed/sniffed at

idiom

Something that is good enough to be taken seriously or considered valuable.

A free trip to Paris is not to be sneezed at.

Maya's offer of help was not to be sniffed at.

sneeze — noun

Word family

  • sneezing
    nounB1
  • sneezed
    verbA2
  • sneezes
    verbA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe sounds or actions of the nose and mouth, but each is distinct. 'Sneeze' is a sudden, powerful, involuntary burst — you cannot control it and it usually happens in response to irritation. 'Cough' is a forceful expulsion of air from the lungs through the mouth, often because of illness or something stuck in the throat; unlike a sneeze, coughing can sometimes be controlled or suppressed. 'Sniffle' is a much quieter, repeated action of pulling air through the nose, usually when someone has a cold or is crying. 'Snort' is a loud, sudden sound made by forcing air through the nose, often on purpose to show amusement or contempt. For example: 'He sneezed so hard he startled the cat' (involuntary reflex). 'She coughed to clear her throat before speaking' (semi-controllable). 'The child sniffled through the whole movie because of his allergies' (repeated quiet sound). 'He snorted with laughter at the joke' (voluntary, expressive).

cough ↗snifflesnort

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • burst into a sneeze
  • fit of sneezing
  • sneeze attack

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'sneeze' comes from Old English 'fnēosan', which was likely created to imitate the sound of a sneeze. Over time, the spelling changed — the 'fn' was misread as 'sn' in Middle English, giving us 'snesen', and later 'sneeze' in modern English. Related words include Dutch 'niezen' and German 'niesen', which share the same sound-imitating origin.