Explanation at your level:
You use stink when something has a bad smell. If you take off your shoes after a long day, they might stink. It is a simple way to say 'smell bad'.
Use stink to talk about bad odors. 'The trash stinks today.' You can also use it when you are unhappy: 'It stinks that we have no school today!'
Stink is often used to describe unfair situations. If a game is unfair, you can say, 'That stinks!' It is a very common, informal way to express frustration or disappointment.
In more advanced contexts, stink can imply suspicion. If a situation 'stinks,' it feels wrong or dishonest. It is a strong, emotive word that adds color to your complaints.
The usage of stink often leans into the figurative. Writers use it to describe corruption or moral decay. It carries a visceral weight that 'unpleasant' lacks, making it useful for vivid, descriptive prose.
Historically, stink was neutral, but it has become a marker of colloquial English. Its mastery involves knowing when to swap it for more clinical terms like 'malodorous' or 'foul' to adjust the register of your communication.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means to smell bad
- Used for unfair situations
- Irregular verb: stink-stank-stunk
- Very common informal word
When we say something stinks, we are usually talking about a nose-wrinkling, unpleasant smell. It is a very direct word that leaves no doubt about how bad the odor is.
Beyond the literal sense of smell, stink is frequently used in casual conversation to describe situations that are unfair or of poor quality. If a movie is boring or a rule feels unjust, you might hear someone say, 'That stinks!' It is a versatile, punchy word that conveys strong negative feelings.
The word stink comes from the Old English word stincan, which originally meant 'to emit a smell'—whether good or bad! Over time, the meaning narrowed specifically to unpleasant odors.
It shares roots with Germanic languages like the Old High German stinkan. It has been a staple of the English language for centuries, evolving from a neutral descriptor of scent into a powerful way to express disapproval.
In daily life, stink is used to describe physical objects like garbage, gym clothes, or rotting food. It is a common, informal verb.
When used metaphorically, it often appears in phrases like 'the whole thing stinks,' implying corruption or dishonesty. While it is perfectly fine for casual talk, avoid using it in highly formal business reports where words like 'unpleasant' or 'substandard' are preferred.
1. Make a stink: To cause a public fuss. Example: She made a big stink about the service.
2. Stink to high heaven: To smell extremely bad. Example: That dumpster stinks to high heaven.
3. Stink up the place: To make an area smell bad. Example: Don't cook fish and stink up the place!
4. Stink out: To force someone to leave by smelling bad. Example: The skunk stunk us out of the cabin.
5. Stink of [something]: To be obviously full of something negative. Example: His excuse stinks of lies.
As a verb, stink is irregular: stink (present), stank (past), and stunk (past participle). For example, 'The room stank yesterday.'
Pronounced /stɪŋk/ in both US and UK English, it rhymes with 'link,' 'sink,' and 'pink.' The stress is always on the single syllable.
Fun Fact
It used to be neutral, meaning it could describe a good smell too!
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'i' sound like in 'sit'
Crisp 'k' at the end
Common Errors
- pronouncing 'g' separately
- long 'e' sound
- adding an extra syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy
Medium
Medium
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Irregular Verbs
stink-stank-stunk
Subject-Verb Agreement
The socks stink
Adjective usage
stinky feet
Examples by Level
The socks stink.
socks = foot clothes
Subject-verb agreement
This fish stinks.
fish = food
Simple present
The trash stinks.
trash = garbage
Noun + verb
My dog stinks.
dog = pet
Possessive pronoun
Does it stink?
question form
Auxiliary verb
It really stinks!
really = very
Adverb usage
The room stinks.
room = space
Definite article
Don't stink here.
imperative
Negative command
The gym bag stinks.
It stinks outside.
This milk stinks.
That plan stinks.
Why does it stink?
The locker stinks.
It stinks of old food.
Everything stinks here.
The whole deal stinks.
It stinks that you can't come.
His story stinks of lies.
Don't make a stink about it.
The basement stinks of mold.
This situation really stinks.
The air stinks of smoke.
It stinks, but it's fair.
The corruption stinks to high heaven.
She made a big stink at the meeting.
The politics of the office stink.
It stinks of desperation.
The entire project stinks of failure.
I don't want to make a stink.
The atmosphere stinks of tension.
His excuses always stink.
The scandal stinks of political interference.
The room was stunk out by the chemicals.
It stinks of a cover-up.
There is a pervasive stink of dishonesty.
The policy stinks of inequality.
He left the room stinking of tobacco.
The project stinks of poor planning.
A faint stink of ozone remained.
The narrative stinks of historical revisionism.
The air stunk of damp earth and decay.
The proposal stinks of ulterior motives.
The atmosphere stunk of suppressed rage.
The whole affair stinks of impropriety.
It stinks of a bygone era.
The air stunk of burnt rubber.
The situation stinks of bad faith.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"make a stink"
complain loudly
He made a stink about the delay.
casual"stink to high heaven"
smell very strong
The fish market stinks to high heaven.
casual"stink out"
fill a room with a bad smell
The garlic stunk out the kitchen.
casual"stink of [something]"
to show strong signs of
The plan stinks of greed.
neutral"stink up the joint"
make a place smell bad
Don't stink up the joint with that cigar.
slangEasily Confused
both mean smell
reek is more intense
The trash reeks.
both relate to nose
scent is usually good
A nice scent.
both mean smell
odor is neutral/clinical
A strong odor.
adjective form
stinky describes the thing
Stinky feet.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + stink
The garbage stinks.
Subject + stink + of + noun
The room stinks of smoke.
Make a stink about + noun
He made a stink about the price.
It + stinks + that + clause
It stinks that he left.
Stink + to high heaven
The trash stinks to high heaven.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
stink is an irregular verb.
stink already implies smell.
stink is a verb here.
incorrect past participle.
wrong idiom.
Tips
Mnemonic
Think of a skunk's STINK.
Complaining
Use it to vent frustration.
Hamlet
The phrase 'something is rotten in Denmark' is related.
Verb Tenses
Remember: stink, stank, stunk.
The 'nk' sound
Keep the 'k' crisp.
Don't say 'stinked'
Always use 'stank' or 'stunk'.
History
It used to mean any smell.
Context
Link it to 'smell' + 'bad'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
STINK: Smelly Things In New Kitchens.
Visual Association
A green cloud over a trash can.
Word Web
Challenge
Describe three things that stink in your house.
Word Origin
Old English
Original meaning: to emit a smell
Cultural Context
Can be rude if directed at a person.
Used frequently in casual complaints about life.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Cleaning
- The trash stinks
- Take it out
- Clean the room
Complaining
- That stinks
- It is unfair
- I hate this
Cooking
- Don't stink up the kitchen
- Open a window
Suspicion
- It stinks of lies
- Something is wrong
Conversation Starters
"What is the worst smell you have ever encountered?"
"Have you ever made a stink about something?"
"Do you think it is okay to complain when things stink?"
"What should you do if your room stinks?"
"Can a situation stink without a physical smell?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time something really stunk.
Describe a situation that felt unfair and 'stunk'.
If you had to describe a bad smell without using 'stink', what would you say?
Reflect on why we use the same word for smells and bad situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsIt is informal, but not a swear word.
No, that would be an insult!
Stank or stunk.
Yes, 'That movie stinks!'
Rarely, unless very informal.
To show signs of something.
/stɪŋk/.
Usually an uncountable noun.
Test Yourself
My gym socks ___.
Plural subject 'socks' needs base verb.
Which is a synonym for stink?
Stink means to smell bad.
You can 'make a stink' about something you like.
It is used for complaints.
Word
Meaning
Basic vocabulary matching.
Idiom word order.
Score: /5
Summary
Stink is a powerful, versatile word for describing both bad smells and bad situations.
- Means to smell bad
- Used for unfair situations
- Irregular verb: stink-stank-stunk
- Very common informal word
Mnemonic
Think of a skunk's STINK.
Complaining
Use it to vent frustration.
Hamlet
The phrase 'something is rotten in Denmark' is related.
Verb Tenses
Remember: stink, stank, stunk.
