English Reference

Word

snort

US/ˈsnɔɹt/

UK/snˈɔːt/

Definitions

01to breathe out loudly

B2

v. to force air out through your nose with a loud sound, often because you are surprised, laughing, or angry.

v. to exhale air forcibly through the nostrils, producing a characteristic harsh sound.

“The horse gave a loud snort and shook its head as we approached the fence.”

“The old stallion snorted at the unfamiliar scent, pawing the ground with a restless energy that suggested he might bolt at any moment.”

Synonyms

02to show contempt

B2

v. to make a sound through your nose to show that you think something is stupid or not worth your time.

v. to express derision, contempt, or incredulity by making a snorting sound.

“"You think you can win?" he snorted, looking at my old running shoes.”

“She snorted in disbelief when the politician claimed that the new tax would actually save the average family money.”

Synonyms

03to inhale a drug

C1

v. to breathe a drug in powder form up into your nose.

v. to inhale a powdered substance, typically a narcotic, through the nostrils. Transitive — takes the substance as a direct object.

“The movie showed the characters snorting white powder in a dark club.”

“The documentary explored the devastating health consequences for individuals who regularly snort cocaine and other illicit stimulants.”

Slang

Synonyms

04to use a submarine snorkel

C2 · Science

v. to sail a submarine just under the water while using a special tube to breathe air.

v. to operate a submarine at periscope depth while using a snorkel (or 'snort') to provide air for the engines and crew.

“The submarine had to snort for several hours to recharge its batteries.”

“The vessel was forced to snort under cover of darkness to avoid detection by enemy aircraft patrolling the surface.”

Technical · British English

Synonyms

snorkel

05the sound itself

B2

n. the loud sound made by breathing air quickly through the nose.

n. a sound made by exhaling or inhaling roughly through the nose, often signifying a specific emotion or physiological state.

“She let out a snort of laughter when she saw his ridiculous hat.”

“A sharp snort of indignation escaped him as he read the scathing review of his latest novel.”

Synonyms

gruntsnuffle

Etymology

From Middle English snorten, from earlier fnorten, from Old English *fnorettan, related to Middle English snoren, fnoren, from Old English fnora. See snore and sneeze for more on the change from fn- to sn-.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Nautical

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/snort

English Reference