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

The action unfolded across four venues - each powered by renewable energy - with the most noticeable buzz around the SEC Campus.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

Like Yulia, he said he was not worried, having become accustomed to the regular buzz of drones.

From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026

We look into the buzz and examine the science, risks and benefits behind the controversial gut-health trend.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

Los Angeles-based Alo, one of Lululemon’s chief rivals in the West, has gained buzz on the Chinese internet as some travelers purchased its apparel abroad to impress friends back home.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

It was soft and warm at the same time, with no buzz.

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat

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

Those honks and buzzes outside of Rosenkrantz’s apartment also needed to match the time of day depicted in the film.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2025

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2025

The radio bleeps and buzzes and squawks and crackles so much that it's impossible to hear a word.

From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

My first reaction to the trailer for “Children of Blood and Bone,” Paramount’s lush adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling 2018 young adult novel, was that I buzzed with excitement.

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

Dozens of phones buzzed across the globe last December.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

After Duane Roberts died at 88 in November, Riverside buzzed with questions over the fate of the hotel, prompting another Roberts family lawyer to offer public assurances.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026

People buzzed around, zipping in and out of stores, wondering aloud if the afternoon tempest would delay their shopping.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Late on Friday, my phone started buzzing with alarms from the speech.

From Salon ● Jul. 31, 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

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

So many of them clustered on the screen that their buzzing made her ears ring.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

Related Words

• news
• rumble
• rumor
• whisper