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

Pocognoli has something to build on now, three points to go with that strong second half against Slovenia a week ago; new players, aggressive football, a bit of buzz.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

This bold move would add instant credibility again and immediate buzz to the program while energizing the fans.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

Organizers said hundreds of names were on a waiting list for the event, highlighting the industry buzz around Venezuela's oil sector re-opening after years of state control.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

As other companies race to push out new models and products, Meta will need to translate Muse’s initial buzz into an everyday consumer habit to stay in the lead.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 26, 2026

By now the noise in the classroom had grown to a low buzz.

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence

His watch buzzes every 10 minutes with another agent request.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

At Temple Street Night Market, steam rises, neon buzzes, just like the guidebooks promised.

From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026

When I hit the gas, the car pulls hard and the engine buzzes as if it’s powered by a hive of killer bees.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026

Back in Seoul, the market buzzes with tourists, and business is booming for Lee.

From BBC ● Feb. 4, 2026

The floor tilts, and my head buzzes like a swarm of bees has been let loose from its hive.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

And so, on a late morning in late August, I buzzed the seventh floor and rode the elevator straight into the belly of the beast.

From Slate ● Sep. 18, 2026

I had just begun to lilt toward sleep when my phone buzzed.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 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

A pleasant feeling buzzed in his chest, like a hive of happy bees that made the honey for Leyla’s baklava.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

Amazon once filed a patent application for “hi-tech buzzing wristbands,” as one headline put it, “that bosses can use to track workers and order them around.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

Since then, Richmond’s phone has been buzzing with a consistent refrain: “Now I understand why you have a foldable.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

This sounds kind of self-sabotaging, but we met with Odd Future when they first were buzzing in L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

At the Psagot winery on Wednesday, business was buzzing.

From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026

She was shaking with exhaustion, buzzing with adrenaline.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

• news
• rumble
• rumor
• whisper