1
a
: a smoke, vapor, or gas especially when irritating or offensive
engine exhaust fumes
b
: an often noxious suspension of particles in a gas (such as air)
2
: something (such as an emotion) that impairs one's reasoning
sometimes his head gets a little hot with the fumes of patriotism—
Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold3
: a state of excited irritation or anger
—usually used in the phrase in a fume
fumed; fuming
1
: to expose to or treat with fumes
2
: to give off in fumes
fuming thick black smoke
3
: to utter while in a state of excited irritation or anger
1
a
: to emit fumes
b
: to be in a state of excited irritation or anger
fretted and fumed over the delay
2
: to rise in or as if in fumes
Synonyms
Examples of fume in a Sentence
Verb
She's still fuming about not being invited to the party.
We sat there waiting for him, fuming with anger at the delay.
“They made these changes without even asking our opinion,” one employee fumed.
The volcano was fuming thick black smoke.
Recent Examples on the Web
Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2024
The cause of death given was inhalation of fire fumes.
—Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 17 Sep. 2024
Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 13 Sep. 2024
And so, on July 4, 2004, with dignitaries in attendance and Silverstein fuming, a 20-ton block of polished Adirondack granite was craned into place — before later being trucked away for storage.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fume 
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Noun
However, the toxic gas known as carbon monoxide (CO) is found in the fumes produced by these devices.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2024
The cause of death given was inhalation of fire fumes.
—Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 17 Sep. 2024
Verb
Travis Hunter went from celebrating acrobatic catches in the end zone against North Dakota State to fuming in Lincoln.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 13 Sep. 2024
And so, on July 4, 2004, with dignitaries in attendance and Silverstein fuming, a 20-ton block of polished Adirondack granite was craned into place — before later being trucked away for storage.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fume
Articles Related to fume
Dictionary Entries Near fume
Cite this Entry
“Fume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fume. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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