puff

1 of 3

verb

puffed; puffing; puffs

intransitive verb

1
a(1)
: to blow in short gusts
(2)
: to exhale forcibly
b
: to breathe hard : pant
c
: to emit small whiffs or clouds (as of smoke) often as an accompaniment to vigorous action
puff at a pipe
2
: to speak or act in a scornful, conceited, or exaggerated manner
3
a
: to become distended : swell
usually used with up
b
: to open or appear in or as if in a puff
4
: to form a chromosomal puff

transitive verb

1
a
: to emit, propel, blow, or expel by or as if by puffs : waft
b
: to draw on (a cigar, cigarette, pipe, etc.) with intermittent exhalations of smoke
2
a
: to distend with or as if with air or gas : inflate
b
: to make proud or conceited : elate
c(1)
: to praise extravagantly and usually with exaggeration
authors puffing their own work
(2)

puff

2 of 3

noun

1
a
: an act or instance of puffing : whiff
b
: a slight explosive sound accompanying a puff
c
: a perceptible cloud or aura emitted in a puff
2
: a light round hollow pastry
3
a
: a slight swelling : protuberance
b
: a fluffy mass: such as
(1)
(2)
: a small fluffy pad for applying cosmetic powder
(3)
: a soft loose roll of hair
(4)
: a quilted bed covering
4
: a commendatory or promotional notice or review
5
: an enlarged region of a chromosome that is associated with intensely active genes involved in RNA synthesis

puff

3 of 3

adjective

: of, relating to, or designed for promotion or flattery
a puff piece in the paper

Examples of puff in a Sentence

Verb She sat on the porch puffing on a cigarette. The chimney puffed white smoke into the sky. We watched the train puff away on its journey west. He was puffing and panting from running. The bikers puffed up the hill. Noun He let me have a puff off his pipe. She took two puffs on her inhaler before going for a run. puffs filled with cream cheese and apricot jam
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
An opening scene introduces the two puffing cigarettes across state lines, absconding from a school trip to put up bets at the tracks (and not even on horses, but on dogs). J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024 Sebastián came puffing down the hill in a cloud of dust. Jared Lemus, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2024 Then there’s the array of stretch marks on his back from when his body puffed up and deflated during his time on life support. Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2024 Sprinkle the pastry with a little coarse salt and then bake in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes, until golden and puffed. The Editors, Field & Stream, 6 Mar. 2024 The rice should be puffed up and tender on the outside, with a little bite in the middle. Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 29 Feb. 2024 The simple batter is spread on top of the bean layer and then baked until it is puffed, golden-brown and set in the center. Ellie Krieger, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2024 That’s long been a subject of mystery and controversy for three main reasons: Trump habitually puffs up his wealth, his holdings are mostly not in public companies with transparent balance sheets, and his extensive assets tend to be heavily leveraged ... Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 27 Feb. 2024 Patient shoppers chatted or flicked at their phones on a recent Saturday, nailed in place by the scent of buttery croissants and fresh-baked artisanal sourdough bread that puffed every time the door swung. Carlos Frías, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Noun
Spoon it into airy cheese puffs and serve it at brunch or bridal showers. Patricia S York, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2024 Joel, direct and low-key, sat at a long table in his gatehouse overlooking Oyster Bay Harbor and took occasional puffs of a fruity vape (a replacement for cigars). Caryn Ganz, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2024 The idea is that these ingredients improve the flavor (dairy tastes good), tenderness (the fat in the dairy interrupts the proteins in the eggs), and fluffiness (the water in the dairy puffs into steam). Emma Laperruque, Bon Appétit, 24 Jan. 2024 Spora grew out of Alchemist’s Copenhagen test kitchen, where chefs still shape and puff and buff dishes during the first part of each night’s meal. Charlotte Lytton, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 The rumble and puff of the machine had run in the background of their home, punctuated by chronic coughs from all three girls with CF. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2024 The scents were from whatever the party next to you brought for a picnic dinner, or a furtive puff of marijuana. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 This jacket is super comfy and features just the right amount of puff to keep you warm without feeling too bulky. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 24 Jan. 2024 The phrase has long gone together, but, nowadays, each puff passed, pill crushed and line sniffed threatens death, not a shaking finger. Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 24 Jan. 2024
Adjective
Read on for a best-selling safari shirt, the perfect white button-down that requires no ironing, and a few pretty tops featuring one of spring’s hottest trends: puff sleeves. Kristine Solomon, Travel + Leisure, 19 Mar. 2024 The puff sleeves definitely add interest, and so does the V-neckline, floral pattern, adjustable tie at the waist, and ruffle midi-length hem. Carly Totten, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024 Here are some of our other favorite online reactions to the (puff, puff, pass) palindrome. Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 11 Mar. 2024 Her version of luxury womenswear looks playful with 3D fuzzy tops, a silver floor-length puff dress, and collared shirts with exaggerated arm cuffs. Essence, 22 Feb. 2024 At the 1987 ceremony, Matlin, who was 21 at the time, hit the red carpet — and took home an Oscar for her first career performance in the drama Children of a Lesser God — in a lacy lavender gown that featured '80s puff sleeves and satin details. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024 Find it on Amazon This Sweater Dress To Be Paired With Tights Embrace the cooler weather with this Sweater Dress that has a mock neck and long puff sleeves that offer a cozy yet chic look, perfect for fall or winter gatherings. Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023 The couple stepped out holding hands, with Watts, 55, wearing a Dior Haute Couture Spring Summer 2023 long black crepe dress, embroidered with geometric floral appliqués on a mesh background with puff sleeves. Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 This gorgeous stark white satin-y sheen blazer with puff sleeves featured a sophisticated double button closure. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 29 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'puff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English pyffan, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a(1)

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of puff was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near puff

Cite this Entry

“Puff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puff. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

puff

1 of 3 verb
1
a
: to blow in short gusts
b
: to breathe hard : pant
puffed as we climbed the hill
c
: to blow by or as if by puffs
the locomotive puffed smoke
2
: to swell or become swollen with or as if with air
the sprained ankle puffed up
puffed up with pride

puff

2 of 3 noun
1
a
: an act or instance of puffing : whiff, gust
b
: a cloud (as of smoke or steam) given off in a puff
2
: a light pastry that rises high in baking
3
a
: a slight swelling
b
: a small fluffy pad for applying cosmetic powder
c
: a quilted bed covering
puffiness noun
puffy adjective

puff

3 of 3 adjective
: of, relating to, or designed for promotion or flattery
a puff piece

Medical Definition

puff

1 of 2 intransitive verb
1
: to become distended : swell
usually used with up
2
: to form a chromosomal puff

puff

2 of 2 noun
1
2
: an enlarged region of a chromosome that is associated with intensely active genes involved in RNA synthesis

Legal Definition

puff

noun
1
: an act or instance of puffing
2
: a statement that amounts to puffing
whether the seller's statement was a “puff” or an express warrantyJ. J. White and R. S. Summers

More from Merriam-Webster on puff

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