What's the past tense of "smell"?

The past tense of smell can be either smelled or smelt. Both forms are correct, with smelled being more common in American English and smelt preferred in British English.

👍🏼 Usage Note

✓ I smelled cookies baking when I walked in. (US)

✓ I smelt something burning in the kitchen. (UK)

Verb forms of 'smell'

The verb smell, as described by Oxford Dictionary: "To notice or recognize a particular odor using your nose: I can smell something burning." Also, "To have a particular odor: The flowers smell lovely."

Simple Continuous Perfect Conditional

Present:

I/you/they smell • He/she/it smells

Past:

I/you/he/she/it/they smelled or smelt

Future:

I/you/he/she/it/they will smell

Present:

I am smelling • You/they are smelling • He/she/it is smelling

Past:

I/he/she/it was smelling • You/they were smelling

Future:

I/you/he/she/it/they will be smelling

Present:

I/you/they have smelled/smelt • He/she/it has smelled/smelt

Past:

I/you/he/she/it/they had smelled/smelt

Future:

I/you/he/she/it/they will have smelled/smelt

Present:

I/you/he/she/it/they would smell

Past:

I/you/he/she/it/they would have smelled/smelt

Similar irregular verbs

spell

Present: spell

Past: spelled/spelt

Past part: spelled/spelt

burn

Present: burn

Past: burned/burnt

Past part: burned/burnt

learn

Present: learn

Past: learned/learnt

Past part: learned/learnt

When to use smelled vs. smelt

I smelled cookies baking when I walked in. (American English)

I smelt something burning in the kitchen. (British English)

Both smelled and smelt are correct past tense forms. Smelled is more common in American English, while smelt is preferred in British English.

Sentence examples: smell, smelled/smelt

Present tense examples

I smell something delicious cooking.
The flowers smell wonderful in the garden.
She always smells her food before eating.
The dog smells everything on our walks.

Past tense examples (smelled - US)

I smelled cookies baking when I walked in.
She smelled the roses in the garden.
We smelled smoke coming from the kitchen.
He smelled the milk to check if it was fresh.

Past tense examples (smelt - UK)

I smelt something burning in the kitchen.
She smelt the perfume on her wrist.
We smelt the sea air as we approached the coast.
He smelt the wine before tasting it.

Perfect tense examples

I have smelled/smelt that perfume before.
She has smelled/smelt something strange all day.
We have smelled/smelt gas in the basement.
They had smelled/smelt the smoke before seeing the fire.

Synonyms for "smell"

Synonyms: scent, odor, aroma, fragrance, whiff, sniff, detect, perceive, sense, inhale

FAQs

Is "smelled" or "smelt" correct?

Both "smelled" and "smelt" are correct. "Smelled" is more common in American English, while "smelt" is preferred in British English.

What type of verb is "smell"?

"Smell" is a semi-irregular verb that has two acceptable past tense forms: "smelled" and "smelt."

Can I use both forms in the same text?

It's best to be consistent within a single piece of writing. Choose either "smelled" or "smelt" and stick with it throughout your text.

Which form should I use in formal writing?

Both forms are acceptable in formal writing. Choose based on your target audience: "smelled" for American readers, "smelt" for British readers.

Sources

"Smell, V." Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, March 2025, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/1199038215.
Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of smell." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/smell. Accessed 24 December, 2022.