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

Film magazine Variety said Malkovich was "drumming up awards buzz" and tipped him for a possible first best actor Oscar at the next awards ceremony.

From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026

The San Francisco Bay Area, which had been losing citizens as well, seems to be building some buzz.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

In the past, films that generate big online buzz haven’t always translated to Oscar contenders.

From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2026

The buzz has propelled sales and fueled profit growth at Onitsuka Tiger owner Asics, a Japanese footwear company whose shoes are popular with both serious runners and those who prefer comfortable “dad sneakers.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

The buzz of questions—What did you do this summer?

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Beneath him, the wine warehouse buzzes with activity.

From BBC ● May 18, 2026

Instead chefs push a button that buzzes waiters’ watches to alert them to pick up food.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 13, 2025

Thirty minutes until curtain, that darkness buzzes with precise, hive-like activity.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2025

ET – with Queens local and President Donald Trump set to enter this haven of Hamptons tans and Honey Deuce buzzes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2025

A fly buzzes above the bed, hitting its body over and over against a window sealed forever by too many layers of renter’s paint.

From "A Step from Heaven" by An Na

One evening in early August, farmer Daniel Sizer's phone buzzed with a message.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

A police officer buzzed the gate of her home.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

I hadn’t even been drinking but, boy, I felt buzzed.

From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026

In the main square, Lebanese soldiers used heavy machinery to remove rubble as drones buzzed overhead.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

At that moment, the pager in his hand buzzed.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

At the Psagot winery on Wednesday, business was buzzing.

From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026

The sound of drones buzzing overhead has become a regular part of life.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

She said she was "buzzing" for the opportunity, adding that it meant a lot, as an unsigned artist, to be given this kind of platform.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

Valgeir Gestsson runs the music section at a public library near Reykjavík’s buzzing city center, where English-speaking tourists relax in restaurants and coffee shops.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

My outrage had already reached my ears, and all I could hear was the buzzing of my own bees.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

Related Words

• news
• rumble
• rumor
• whisper