Word
reek
US/ˈɹik/
UK/ɹˈiːk/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a strong, unpleasant smell. You use this word to describe a bad odor that is very noticeable.
n. a strong, offensive, or pungent smell. Often used in the context of decay, dampness, or chemical substances.
Examples
“The old basement was full of a damp reek.”
“The kitchen was filled with the reek of spoiled milk after the power went out for three days.”
“The air in the industrial district was thick with the reek of sulfur and iron, a constant reminder of the heavy machinery operating just beyond the city limits.”
Examples
simple
“The old basement was full of a damp reek.”
contextual
“The kitchen was filled with the reek of spoiled milk after the power went out for three days.”
complex
“The air in the industrial district was thick with the reek of sulfur and iron, a constant reminder of the heavy machinery operating just beyond the city limits.”
Real-World Examples
“Sometimes a rubbish dump is to blame, or it might be a sewage treatment works, or a reeking factory.” “She is no vulgarian, even if her mansion, with enormous chandeliers and golden trim on the white wall panels, reeks of new money.” “But from this vantage point, the reek of manure wafts over with the wind.” “For a show that on the surface seems antiquated – "it just reeks 70s," Koenig laughs, "I mean, the hairstyles and the clothes and everything" – it has found an audience with younger people.” Etymology
From Middle English rek, reke (“smoke”), from Old English rēc, from Proto-West Germanic rauki, from Proto-Germanic raukiz, from Proto-Indo-European *rowgi-. See also West Frisian reek, riik, Dutch rook, Low German Röök, German Rauch, Danish røg, Norwegian Bokmål røyk; also Lithuanian rū̃kti (“to smoke”), rū̃kas (“smoke, fog”), Albanian regj (“to tan”).
From Middle English reken (“to smoke”), from Old English rēocan, from Proto-West Germanic reukan, from Proto-Germanic reukaną, from Proto-Indo-European *rougi-. See above. Related to Dutch ruiken, Low German rüken, German riechen, Danish ryge, Swedish ryka.
From Middle English reke (“heap, pile”), from Old English hrēac.
Probably a transferred use (after Irish cruach (“stack (of corn), pile, mountain, hill”)) of a variant of rick, with which it is cognate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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