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

95 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

62 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

24 4.6

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

is a quick noisy blow without necessarily showing anger or effort

H

to heave

vsto puff

19 4.3

To breathe out loudly because of effort or strong feeling

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

B

to breathe out

vsto puff

8 1.0

To push air out of your lungs

is a sudden noisy expulsion rather than a normal calm breath

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

9.9

To breathe out suddenly and make a puffing sound

is a quick noisy outward breath without choking sound

Antonyms

I

to inhale

84 2.7

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

Idioms

I

in a puff of smoke

• Informal

1 8.4

Suddenly disappears without a clear reason

Phrasal Verbs

P

to puff out

5 3.5

To make something larger by filling with air or pride

P

to puff up

4 4.9

To become proud and show it in your face or actions

P

to puff up

2 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

6 3.6

A small quick cloud of smoke that appears and disappears

C

cream puff

4 3.0

A small light pastry filled with sweet cream or custard

P

puff of air

1 2.1

A short, light burst of air

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 of white smoke

1 3.8

A small burst of white smoke from a chimney or engine

P

puff adder

• US

8.6

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

P

puff batter

6.2

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

P

puff paste

• Specialized

4.9

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

P

powder-puff

• Offensive

7.9

A sports match played only by women

How Hard

to blast

66 4.1

to blow

711 1.0

to huff

24 4.6

to puff

19 1.4

to exhale

62 2.6

to breathe

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology