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Smelled vs Smelt
Difference, Examples & Quiz

What's the difference? Which one is correct?

Smelled

Definition: The past tense and past participle of the verb 'smell'. It means to perceive or detect the odor or scent of something.

Usage: Smelled is commonly used to describe the act of using one's sense of smell to perceive odors.

Example sentences:
  • 1. I smelled the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread.
  • 2. She smelled the flowers to determine their fragrance.
  • 3. The dog smelled the food and started wagging its tail.
Smelt

Definition: The past tense and past participle of the verb 'smelt'. It has multiple meanings depending on the context.

Usage: Smelt can refer to the act of extracting metal from its ore by heating and melting it. It can also mean the act of perceiving or detecting a particular odor.

Example sentences:
  • 1. The workers smelted the iron ore to obtain pure iron.
  • 2. He smelted the gold to create a beautiful piece of jewelry.
  • 3. She smelt the smoke and immediately called the fire department.

The word 'smelled' is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'smell.' It is commonly used in American English. The word 'smelt' is also the past tense and past participle of the verb 'smell,' but it is more commonly used in British English. Both words have the same meaning, but their usage may vary based on regional differences.

Quizzes about "Smelled" vs "Smelt"

Smelled vs Smelt: 5 Quizzes

1. What is the past tense of 'smell'?

2. Which is the correct past tense of 'smell'?

3. What is the past form of 'smell'?

4. Which is the correct past form of 'smell'?

5. What is the past participle of 'smell'?

FAQs

  • What does 'Smelled' mean?

    The past tense of the verb 'smell', which refers to the act of perceiving odors with the nose.

  • What does 'Smelt' mean?

    The past tense of the verb 'smelt', which has multiple meanings including extracting metal from its ore through heating and melting, or the act of perceiving odors with the nose in British English.

  • Is 'Smelled' the same as 'Smelt'?

    No, they have different meanings and uses. 'Smelled' is the more common past tense form of 'smell', while 'smelt' has specific uses related to metal extraction and is also used as the past tense of 'smell' in British English.

  • Can 'Smelled' and 'Smelt' be used interchangeably?

    In most cases, 'smelled' and 'smelt' cannot be used interchangeably as they have distinct meanings. However, there are some contexts where they can be used interchangeably, such as when referring to perceiving odors with the nose in British English.

  • Are there any other meanings of 'Smelt'?

    Yes, 'smelt' can also refer to a small fish or the process of melting or fusing ores to separate the metal content.