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

By 2018, the craft beer industry’s buzz was starting to wear off.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

As for noise, there's still a buzz, but the sound is higher-pitched and not quite so loud as the familiar petrol-powered machines.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

A steady buzz is growing around China as advanced robotics emerges as the next frontier of the global AI boom, encompassing both investor enthusiasm and alarm from rivals such as the United States.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

That’s because he’s been has been getting a lot of buzz for strong performances in training camp.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

Pong heard the clink of an orb switching on, followed by its distinctive buzz.

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat

Beneath him, the wine warehouse buzzes with activity.

From BBC ● May 18, 2026

A Riyadh development called Diriyah buzzes with activity around a hub of restaurants set next to a historic ruin, with a Trump-branded hotel planned nearby.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 6, 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

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

Madge takes the chair next to me, taps her foot, and buzzes into her mouthpiece.

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari

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

From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026

A police officer buzzed the gate of her home.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

Military jets buzzed crowds of awestruck parents and children.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 4, 2026

He buzzed about the streets of Clydebank while his brothers tried to make their way in the game.

From BBC ● 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

Each week in our new Wellness newsletter, I’ll share what people are buzzing about and help put it into context.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

He then takes to the stage to stretch and warm up, the packed house already buzzing on the other side of the velvet curtain.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

Instead, the humid silence is punctuated by the diesel generators, the occasional Bluetooth speaker or the tinny buzzing of a cell phone squeezing out reggaeton, reparto or US pop.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

Seconds later, she heard a buzzing sound in the sky.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

With fewer birds to eat the insects, their population exploded, and the sweet sound of birdsong was replaced with the constant buzzing of scaly little wings.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown

Related Words

• news
• rumble
• rumor
• whisper