buzz

American  

[buhz] / bʌz /

noun

buzzes plural

1. a low, vibrating, humming sound, as of bees, machinery, or people talking.

2. Informal. a rumor or report.

   There's a buzz going around that he'll soon be fired.

3. Informal. a phone call.

   When I find out, I'll give you a buzz.

4. Slang.

   1. a feeling of intense enthusiasm, interest, excitement, or exhilaration: Their ads are generating plenty of buzz.

      I get a terrific buzz from those Pacific sunsets.

      Their ads are generating plenty of buzz.

   2. a feeling of slight intoxication or overstimulation from liquor or drugs.

      Too much caffeine gives me a buzz.

5. buzzcut.

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verb (used without object)

buzzes, present (3rd person singular) buzzed, past participle, past buzzing present participle

1. to make a low, vibrating, humming sound.

2. to speak or murmur with such a sound.

3. to be filled with the sound of buzzing or whispering.

   The room buzzed.

4. to whisper; gossip.

   Everyone is buzzing about the scandal.

5. to move busily from place to place.

6. Slang. to go; leave (usually followed by off oralong ): Tell him to buzz off and leave me alone.

   I'll buzz along now.

   Tell him to buzz off and leave me alone.

verb (used with object)

buzzes, present (3rd person singular) buzzed, past participle, past buzzing present participle

1. to make a buzzing sound with.

   The fly buzzed its wings.

2. to tell or spread (a rumor, gossip, etc.) secretively.

3. to signal or summon with a buzzer.

   He buzzed his assistant.

4. Informal. to make a phone call to.

5. Aeronautics.

   1. to fly a plane very low over.

      to buzz a field.

   2. to signal or greet (someone) by flying a plane low and slowing the motor spasmodically.

idioms

1. have / get a buzz on, to be slightly intoxicated.

   After a few beers they all had a buzz on.

buzz British  

/ bʌz /

noun

1. a rapidly vibrating humming sound, as that of a prolonged z or of a bee in flight

2. a low sound, as of many voices in conversation

3. a rumour; report; gossip

4. informal a telephone call

   I'll give you a buzz

5. slang

   1. a pleasant sensation, as from a drug such as cannabis

   2. a sense of excitement; kick

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verb

1. (intr) to make a vibrating sound like that of a prolonged z

2. (intr) to talk or gossip with an air of excitement or urgency

   the town buzzed with the news

3. (tr) to utter or spread (a rumour)

4. to move around quickly and busily; bustle

5. (tr) to signal or summon with a buzzer

6. informal (tr) to call by telephone

7. informal (tr)

   1. to fly an aircraft very low over (an object)

      to buzz a ship

   2. to fly an aircraft very close to or across the path of (another aircraft), esp to warn or intimidate

8. (tr) (esp of insects) to make a buzzing sound with (wings, etc)

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• buzzing
  noun
• buzzingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• buzzes
  plural

Participles

• buzzing
  present
• buzzed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• buzz
  simple
• buzzes
  simple
• have buzzed
  perfect
• has buzzed
  perfect
• am buzzing
  progressive
• are buzzing
  progressive
• is buzzing
  progressive
• have been buzzing
  perfect progressive
• has been buzzing
  perfect progressive

Past

• buzzed
  simple
• had buzzed
  perfect
• was buzzing
  progressive
• were buzzing
  progressive
• had been buzzing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will buzz
  simple
• will have buzzed
  perfect
• will be buzzing
  progressive
• will have been buzzing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of buzz

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English busse; imitative

Explanation

A buzz is a vibrating sound, like the sound a bee makes. Your dog might get nervous in your yard when she hears the buzz of insects. Buzz can be a noun or a verb: "My doorbell started to buzz like crazy when everyone showed up for my party." You can also talk about a buzz of activity, a low background noise, or describe the way stunt planes buzz the trees, flying very low. You might tell someone to "buzz off" if you're annoyed with them — this began in 1914 as a way to describe hanging up a telephone — or telling someone to hang up.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

buzz buzzes buzzed buzzing

Bob Elliott sparks buzz highlighting the bargain level of TIPS.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Be it measured by box office gross or word of mouth buzz, popularity isn’t enough to define a classic.

From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026

Tech stocks have had a bumpy ride because of fears that the buzz around artificial intelligence may not match reality and that shares in the sector are overcooked.

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

Burwell’s life may change again if the film keeps up its Oscar buzz.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

Ekon let the old man’s words fade to a faint buzz in the background.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Beneath him, the wine warehouse buzzes with activity.

From BBC ● May 18, 2026

In “Trouble,” she buzzes with nervous energy, her dizzying delivery of Raphaelson’s smart dialogue creating the template for the screwball heroines soon to follow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026

At night, Mandarin Plaza buzzes with conversation from the tea shop in the center.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2026

A radio buzzes in the background with static and news of “that Hitler fella,” as the man says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025

As I put all the snacks onto the counter, my phone buzzes.

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi

Dozens of phones buzzed across the globe last December.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

The street buzzed with street vendors, teenagers out on summer break and elderly men sitting on low-slung walls.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026

Volunteers handed out bottles of water, parasols and food packages to the tens of thousands of pilgrims as they made their way toward Mount Arafat, as helicopters buzzed overhead regularly.

From Barron's ● May 26, 2026

Small-business owners buzzed customers in through locked doors and, at closing time, rolled down metal security gates, luring graffiti vandals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

Grasshoppers jumped around our feet, bees buzzed, a crow cawed in the woods.

From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn

But from the moment his sister took over his Senate seat, Washington has been buzzing about how her politics might differ from his.

From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026

A tranquil opening shot consists of a beautiful seaside view that’s quickly invaded by buzzing drones carrying packages.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

Miami, which recently traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo, got the NBA buzzing this week when it accidentally posted a notice for a LeBron James introductory press conference.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Within minutes, Milestone School and College, a private institution buzzing with student activity, was transformed into a scene of chaos and raging flames.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

My head is buzzing with all sorts of questions, and the buzzing’s only gotten louder with the empty space and silence and time to think.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Related Words

• news
• rumble
• rumor
• whisper