Snuffle
verb / noun Base: snuffle | Past: snuffled | Past Participle: snuffled | -ing: snuffling | 3rd person: snuffles
Definition
1. To breathe noisily through the nose because of a cold or crying.
2. To sniff around searching for something.
3. A noisy nasal breathing sound.
4. A mild cold that causes noisy breathing.
2. To sniff around searching for something.
3. A noisy nasal breathing sound.
4. A mild cold that causes noisy breathing.
Context Alive
The little boy had been crying since his mum left for work. He sat on the sofa, quietly snuffling into his blanket. His grandmother sat beside him and gently rubbed his back until he finally calmed down.
Meanings
4 meanings 1 To Breathe Noisily Through the Nose (Verb) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about breathing loudly and repeatedly through the nose — usually because you have a cold, you’ve been crying, or your nose is blocked. Imagine a child who’s just been told off, sitting in the corner with tears running down their face, snuffling quietly as they try to stop crying. This is snuffling — that wet, noisy breathing through a stuffy nose. You might say “she was snuffling all through the night because of her cold” or “the baby snuffled softly in his sleep.” Or picture yourself in a cinema during a sad film, hearing people snuffling all around you. The word suggests a soft, repeated, slightly pathetic sound. ✏️ Snuffling is quieter and gentler than snoring or snorting — it’s that damp, stuffy nose sound people make when they’re unwell or emotional.
Vivid ExampleThe classroom was silent during the exam except for one student in the back row. She had a terrible cold and kept snuffling every few seconds. Everyone tried to ignore it, but it was impossible to concentrate.
2 To Sniff Around Searching for Something (Verb) Common ▼
This meaning is about using the nose to explore or search — usually said about animals pushing their noses into things and sniffing loudly. Imagine a dog in the park with its nose pressed to the ground, snuffling through the leaves looking for something interesting. This is snuffling — that busy, noisy nosing around. You might say “the hedgehog was snuffling around in the garden” or “the pig snuffled through the mud looking for food.” Or picture a bear snuffling around a campsite at night, following the smell of food. The word captures that wet, busy sniffing sound animals make when they’re exploring with their noses. ✏️ This is almost always used for animals — dogs, pigs, hedgehogs, and bears all snuffle. It paints a vivid picture of an animal nosing around.
Vivid ExampleThey could hear something moving outside the tent in the darkness. A hedgehog was snuffling through the dry leaves just a few feet away. They grabbed their torch and watched it waddle off into the bushes.
3 A Noisy Nasal Breathing Sound (Noun) Common ▼
This meaning is about the sound itself — that soft, wet, noisy breathing you hear coming from someone’s nose. Imagine lying in bed next to someone who has a cold, and all you can hear is a constant snuffle coming from their side of the bed. This is a snuffle — the actual sound of air being pulled through a stuffy or wet nose. You might say “I could hear little snuffles coming from the baby’s room” or “he gave a loud snuffle and wiped his nose.” Or picture a quiet library where the only sound is someone’s occasional snuffle breaking the silence. The word describes a sound that’s soft but impossible to ignore. ✏️ A snuffle is gentler than a snort — it’s a small, damp, repeated nose sound, often quite endearing when babies or animals do it.
Vivid ExampleThe house was completely still in the middle of the night. The only sound was the soft snuffle of the puppy sleeping by the fireplace. She smiled and pulled the blanket tighter around herself.
4 A Mild Cold — The Snuffles (Noun) Less Common ▼
This meaning is about a mild cold or nose condition — used informally as “the snuffles” to describe that annoying state of having a runny, stuffy nose. Imagine a colleague coming into the office looking tired with red eyes, saying “I’ve got the snuffles” — meaning they have a slight cold. This is the snuffles — not a serious illness, just enough to make you miserable and noisy. You might hear “the kids have all got the snuffles this week” or “it’s just the snuffles, nothing serious.” Or think about that time of year when everyone in the office seems to have the snuffles at the same time. The word makes it sound minor and slightly cute. ✏️ This is always used as “the snuffles” (plural with “the”) — it’s informal and sounds lighter and friendlier than saying “a cold.”
Vivid ExampleHalf the children in her class were off sick that week. The ones who did come in all had the snuffles and kept reaching for tissues. She knew it was only a matter of time before she caught it too.
Examples from the Street
“The dog was snuffling around in the bushes looking for something.”
The dog was breathing noisily through its nose while searching through the plants
“I could hear the baby snuffling in her cot all night — I think she’s got a cold.”
I could hear the infant making soft, blocked-nose breathing sounds in her bed throughout the night
“He sat in the corner quietly snuffling after the argument.”
He sat to the side making quiet crying and sniffing sounds after the disagreement
Common Patterns
snuffle in your sleep → make soft, snorting breathing sounds while sleeping
snuffle and sneeze → make repeated nose sounds along with sneezing, usually from a cold
snuffle all night/all day → keep making blocked-nose breathing sounds for a long time
have the snuffles → have a mild cold with a runny or blocked nose (noun, informal)
snuffle around (in something) → search through something using the nose, sniffing noisily
snuffle at/in (something) → push the nose into something and breathe noisily while investigating
snuffle through (leaves/undergrowth) → move through ground-level material while sniffing
snuffle along (the ground/floor) → move forward with the nose close to the surface, sniffing continuously
snuffle quietly/softly → make gentle sniffing sounds while crying
snuffle into (a tissue/handkerchief) → cry softly and wipe or blow the nose into something
hear someone snuffling → notice the sound of someone crying or sniffing quietly
Collocations
2 collocationssnuffle around
move about while sniffing noisily
snuffle with a cold
breathe noisily through a blocked nose
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
The baby has been snuffling in her sleep all week — I think she’s coming down with something
The infant has been making soft, blocked-nose breathing sounds while resting for days — I think she’s developing an illness.
2
Half the office is snuffling and sneezing — there’s definitely a cold going round
A large number of people at work are making nose sounds and expelling air sharply — a virus is clearly spreading among the staff.
3
Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious — she just has the snuffles
There’s no need to be concerned, it’s not a major problem — she just has a mild runny nose.
4
The pig was snuffling around in the mud, completely content
The farm animal was pushing its nose through the wet earth and breathing noisily, looking perfectly happy.
5
Our dog immediately started snuffling at the bag the moment we walked through the door
Our pet began investigating the carrier with its nose the instant we came inside.
6
We could hear hedgehogs snuffling through the leaves in the garden after dark
We were able to detect the sound of small spiny creatures moving noisily through the fallen foliage in the outdoor area once night fell.
7
The truffle-hunting dog snuffled along the ground until it found exactly the right spot
The specially trained animal moved forward with its nose close to the earth, breathing noisily, until it located the precise place.
8
She snuffled quietly in the back row while the rest of the audience watched the emotional final scene
She made soft crying and sniffing sounds in the rear seats while everybody else watched the moving closing sequence.
9
He snuffled into his handkerchief and tried to compose himself before speaking again
He breathed shakily and wiped his nose with his cloth square and attempted to calm himself down before continuing to talk.
10
I could hear someone snuffling behind me during the funeral — it was heartbreaking
I was able to detect the sound of a person crying softly and sniffing behind me during the burial ceremony — it was deeply moving.
Learner Examples
★
When a student sits there snuffling and sneezing through an entire lesson, it’s hard for everyone around them to concentrate on the task
When a learner spends a whole session making blocked-nose sounds and expelling air sharply, it’s difficult for the people sitting nearby to focus on what they’re supposed to be doing.
★
Teachers quickly learn to keep a box of tissues handy during winter when half the class has the snuffles
Educators soon discover the importance of having paper handkerchiefs readily available during the cold months when a large proportion of the group is suffering from mild runny noses.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
0 items
Synonyms & Antonyms
4 items
Synonymssniff
breathe noisily through nose
sniffle
repeated light sniffing
wheeze
noisy breathing
snort
forceful nose breath