Puff — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ˈpəf/

Meaning & Definition of Puff

Puff (verb)

  1. to blow in short gusts
  2. to exhale forcibly
  3. to breathe hard, pant

Puff (noun)

  1. an act or instance of puffing, whiff
  2. a slight explosive sound accompanying a puff
  3. a perceptible cloud or aura emitted in a puff

Puff (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or designed for promotion or flattery

Puff (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a slight or gentle movement of air

    "felt a puff of wind on his face"

    similar: air, breath, breeze, waft, zephyr
    related: current, draft, whiff, sea breeze, blast, blow, flurry, gale, headwind, northeaster, norther, northwester, southeaster, southwester, tailwind, westerly, wind, squall, tempest, tornado, windstorm, airflow
    near: calm

Puff (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty

    "he came running up the stairs puffing and wheezing"

    similar: blow, gasp, heave, hyperventilate, pant, wheeze, be out of breath
    related: choke, gag, gulp, huff, asphyxiate, smother, stifle, strangle, snore, snuffle, exhale, expire

  2. to praise too much

    "a talk show host who can be counted on to puff up the celebrities who readily consent to be interviewed"

    similar: adulate, belaud, blarney, butter up, flatter, hero-worship, honey, massage, overpraise, soft-soap, stroke
    related: blandish, cajole, coax, sweet-talk, wheedle, fawn, kowtow, suck (up to), toady, idolize, worship, eulogize, extol, laud, praise, applaud, commend, compliment, congratulate, felicitate, drool, gush, slaver, slobber, endear, ingratiate, court, romance, woo
    near: bad-mouth, belittle, decry, depreciate, disparage, put down

Related Entry: Puff (up) (verb)

Puff (up) is a different word from Puff. The synonyms below are for puff (up), not for puff.

  1. as in blow up, inflate

    similar: blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon, climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, gain, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax, jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge, heighten, intensify, redouble, crescendo, crest, peak
    opposite: contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane, compress, condense, constrict, shrink

Related Entry: Puff adder (noun)

Puff adder is a different word from Puff. The synonyms below are for puff adder, not for puff.

  1. as in diamondback rattlesnake, garter snake

    similar: adder, anaconda, asp, black racer, blacksnake, blue racer, boa, bull snake, bushmaster, chicken snake, cobra, constrictor, copperhead, coral snake, cottonmouth moccasin, diamondback rattlesnake, fer-de-lance, garter snake, gopher snake, green snake, hognose snake, horned viper, indigo snake, king cobra, king snake, krait, mamba, milk snake, moccasin, pine snake, pit viper, python, racer, rat snake, rattlesnake, sea serpent, sea snake, sidewinder, taipan, water moccasin, water snake, worm snake, serpent, snake, viper

Related Entry: Puff adders (noun)

Puff adders is a different word from Puff. The synonyms below are for puff adders, not for puff.

  1. as in diamondback rattlesnakes, garter snakes

    similar: adders, anacondas, asps, black racers, blacksnakes, blue racers, boas, bull snakes, bushmasters, chicken snakes, cobras, constrictors, copperheads, coral snakes, cottonmouth moccasins, diamondback rattlesnakes, fer-de-lance, garter snakes, gopher snakes, green snakes, hognose snakes, horned vipers, indigo snakes, king cobras, king snakes, kraits, mambas, milk snakes, moccasins, pine snakes, pit vipers, pythons, racers, rat snakes, rattlesnakes, sea serpents, sea snakes, sidewinders, taipans, water moccasins, water snakes, worm snakes, serpents, snakes, vipers

Related Entry: Cream puff (noun)

Cream puff is a different word from Puff. The synonyms below are for cream puff, not for puff.

  1. something easily done or dealt with

    "everyone thinks tonight's game will be a cream puff, and so it hasn't generated a lot of interest"

    similar: breeze, cake, cakewalk, child's play, cinch, duck soup, kid stuff, picnic, pushover, roses, snap, piece of cake, walk in the park
    related: no-brainer, nothing, sitting duck, gimme, laugher, walkaway
    opposite: bear, beast, chore, headache, horror show, killer, labor, murder, pain, sticky wicket, stinker (slang)
    near: brainteaser, poser, stumper, toughie, bother, nuisance, trouble

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Puff

The most common words with a similar meaning to Puff:

air, breath, breeze, waft, zephyr, blow, gasp, heave, hyperventilate, pant, wheeze, adulate, belaud, blarney, butter up, flatter, hero-worship, honey, massage, overpraise, soft-soap, stroke, be out of breath

Related Words for Puff

current, draft, whiff, sea breeze, blast, flurry, gale, headwind, northeaster, norther, northwester, southeaster, southwester, tailwind, westerly, wind, squall, tempest, tornado, windstorm, airflow, choke, gag, gulp, huff, asphyxiate, smother, stifle, strangle, snore

Near Antonyms of Puff

calm, bad-mouth, belittle, decry, depreciate, disparage, put down

Word Forms of Puff

Inflections: puffed, puffing, puffs

Origin & Etymology of Puff

Middle English, from Old English pyffan, of imitative origin

First known use: before 12th centuryi

Words & Phrases Containing Puff

puff adder, puff pastry, puff out, puff piece, puff (up) with pride, cream puff, powder-puff

Frequently Asked Questions about Puff

What does "Puff" mean?

"Puff" means to blow in short gusts. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to blow in short gusts. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Puff"?

Other words for "Puff" include air, breath, breeze, waft, zephyr, blow, gasp and heave. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Puff" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Puff"?

There are 85 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Puff". Common alternatives include air, breath, breeze, waft, zephyr, blow, gasp, heave, hyperventilate and pant.

How do you use "Puff" in a sentence?

Examples of "Puff" in a sentence: "felt a puff of wind on his face"; "he came running up the stairs puffing and wheezing"; "a talk show host who can be counted on to puff up the celebrities who readily consent to be interviewed".

Is "Puff" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Puff" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Puff"?

"Puff" is pronounced /ˈpəf/.

What is the origin of the word "Puff"?

"Puff" comes from Middle English, from Old English pyffan, of imitative origin. First known use: before 12th centuryi.

What is another word for "Puff" meaning "a slight or gentle movement of air"?

When "Puff" (noun) means a slight or gentle movement of air, synonyms include air, breath, breeze, waft and zephyr.