puffed; puffing; puffs
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
1
1
b
: a slight explosive sound accompanying a puff
c
: a perceptible cloud or aura emitted in a puff
d
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
: of, relating to, or designed for promotion or flattery
a puff piece in the paper
Synonyms
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
Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Harris’s cheeks puffed in and out rhythmically, drawing a meditative drone from the didgeridoo while the strings scraped out a sad melody just this side of Ornette Coleman or Rahsaan Roland Kirk.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Kids might get hooked to new vapes that display animations with each puff.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2024
Isabel Garcia, People.com, 24 Nov. 2024
Grande’s voluminous tulle gown featured puff sleeves, a corseted bodice and crystal embellishments.
—Hannah Malach, WWD, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for puff 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Back before the infamous 2018 cheating scandal, the macho Australian team would puff their chests out and proclaim series whitewashes among other boasts.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Harris’s cheeks puffed in and out rhythmically, drawing a meditative drone from the didgeridoo while the strings scraped out a sad melody just this side of Ornette Coleman or Rahsaan Roland Kirk.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
From the Curiosity rover’s perspective, clouds look ethereal and gauzy, like wispy puffs.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Kids might get hooked to new vapes that display animations with each puff.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
This knit dress is also a popular pick right now thanks to its comfortable material and cute puff sleeves.
—Isabel Garcia, People.com, 24 Nov. 2024
Grande’s voluminous tulle gown featured puff sleeves, a corseted bodice and crystal embellishments.
—Hannah Malach, WWD, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for puff
Dictionary Entries Near puff
Cite this Entry
“Puff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puff. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
puff
2 of 3 noun1
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
puff
3 of 3 adjective
: of, relating to, or designed for promotion or flattery
a puff piece
Medical Definition
Legal Definition
puff
noun1
: an act or instance of puffing
2
: a statement that amounts to puffing
whether the seller's statement was a “puff” or an express warranty—J. J. White and R. S. Summers
J. J. White and R. S. SummersLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share