to puff

Examples

• All

• A cloud of white plaster dust puffed out around the boy's shoulders.

  Fiction book (1993)

• A little wind of cold air puffed out and lifted the sweaty hair from her face.

  Fiction book (1990)

• So I'm going to go ahead and kind of like puff this into the skin.

• All right, once more take a deep breath, close your mouth and puff up your cheeks.

  Lisa Eldridge

• The early morning breeze pushed through open windows and puffed the curtains into the room.

  Fiction book (1999)

• Dixon threw away the match, struck another, and puffed his cigar to get it going good.

  Fiction book (1993)

• A gust of hot air from the heating system puffed around Mary Frances.

  Fiction book (1993)

• The athlete took a moment to puff out air after his intense workout.

• As she revealed the surprise, she had to puff out air to calm her excitement.

Synonyms

P

to pant

vsto puff

154 1.6

To breathe quickly and loudly, often after exercise or excitement

is a single quick noisy outward breath rather than repeated gasps

E

to exhale

vsto puff

127 2.6

To breathe out air or smoke from your lungs

is a quick noisy release of air rather than a quiet release

H

to huff

vsto puff

39 4.6

To breathe out loudly and hard, often from effort or anger

is a quick noisy blow without necessarily showing anger or effort

B

to breathe out

vsto puff

36 1.0

To push air out of your lungs

is a sudden noisy expulsion rather than a normal calm breath

H

to heave

vsto puff

18 4.3

To breathe out loudly because of effort or strong feeling

is a quick light noisy blow, not a slow heavy sigh

C

to chuff

vsto puff

2 8.8

To make a puffing sound like a steam train or breathing hard

is a single quick noisy blow rather than repeated engine like blows

W

to whoof

vsto puff

1 9.9

To breathe out suddenly and make a puffing sound

is a quick noisy outward breath without choking sound

Antonyms

I

to inhale

162 2.7

To breathe in air, smoke, or gas into your lungs

Idioms

I

in a puff of smoke

• Informal

2 8.4

Suddenly disappears without a clear reason

Phrasal Verbs

P

to puff up

14 4.9

To become proud and show it in your face or actions

P

to puff out

10 3.5

To make something larger by filling with air or pride

P

to puff up

10 4.4

To make something larger or more full, for example by filling it with air

P

to puff up

1 6.4

To praise someone too much to make them seem better

Compounds

P

puff of smoke

8 3.6

A small quick cloud of smoke that appears and disappears

C

cream puff

8 3.0

A small light pastry filled with sweet cream or custard

P

puff of air

2 2.1

A short, light burst of air

P

powder-puff

• Offensive

2 7.9

A sports match played only by women

P

puff adder

• US

1 8.6

A harmless North American snake with a nose that points up that spreads its head or plays dead when scared

P

puff of white smoke

1 3.8

A small burst of white smoke from a chimney or engine

P

puff adder

• South African

1 9.3

A large African snake that swells its body when threatened and has strong venom

P

puff of steam

1 3.5

A short, sudden burst of steam from hot water or a machine

P

puff paste

• Specialized

1 4.9

A dough of flour, butter, and water that makes light, flaky layers when baked

P

puff batter

1 6.2

A smooth mixture of flour and eggs that rises into light hollow shells for sweet or savory fillings

How Hard

to blast

35 4.1

to blow

668 1.0

to huff

39 4.6

to puff

8 1.4

to exhale

127 2.6

to breathe

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology