What does snorted mean?
“Snorted” is the past tense and past participle of “snort,” a verb meaning to make a short, forceful sound through the nose. The sound often conveys an attitude as much as it conveys noise: someone may snort with laughter, snort in derision, or snort at an idea they consider ridiculous. It can also describe the corresponding physical action, as when an animal snorts in alarm or warning. Because the expression is especially effective at suggesting mockery, disbelief, or amused surprise, it appears frequently in narrative writing and dialogue. It should not be confused with “snored,” the past tense of “snore,” which refers to noisy breathing during sleep. In standard modern English, “snorted” is normally used for the completed action or as a participle modifying another verb.
verbTo make a short, forceful sound through the nose, often as a sign of contempt, amusement, or surprise. In the past tense or past participle, it describes this sound or the action of making it.
- To make a short, forceful sound through the nose.
- To laugh derisively or contemptuously, producing such a sound.
- To express contempt, amusement, or surprise with a nasal sound.
"Several members of the audience snorted with laughter."
"The old dog snorted and backed away from the unfamiliar visitor."
"She snorted at the suggestion that the plan was impractical."
A snort can be a burst of laughter, a dismissive sneer, or the sound of someone clearing their nose—an especially compact expression of attitude.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does snorted come from?
The word comes from the English verb “snort,” whose sound is largely imitative: it imitates a forceful nasal noise. The older English “snore” is related in sound and shares a similar nasal-r or nasal-s development, although the two words have distinct modern meanings.
Related word forms
How snorted is actually used
The verb is relatively informal in its common sense of expressing contempt or amusement. It can also refer more literally to a forceful nasal sound, including one made by an animal.
Easily confused with snorted
To snort is to make a short, forceful nasal sound, often deliberately, whereas to snore is to breathe noisily through the nose and mouth during sleep.