huff
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
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huffs,
present (3rd person singular)
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huffed,
past participle, past
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huffing
present participle
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to give offense to; make angry.
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to treat with arrogance or contempt; bluster at; hector or bully.
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Checkers. to remove (a piece) from the board as a penalty for failing to make a compulsory capture.
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Slang. to inhale the vapors of in order to become intoxicated.
to huff glue.
verb (used without object)
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huffs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
huffed,
past participle, past
-
huffing
present participle
-
to take offense; speak indignantly.
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to puff or blow; breathe heavily.
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to swell with pride or arrogance; swagger or bluster.
noun
verb
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to make or become angry or resentful
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(intr) to blow or puff heavily
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Also: blow. draughts to remove (an opponent's draught) from the board for failure to make a capture
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obsolete (tr) to bully
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empty threats or objections; bluster
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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huffsimple
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huffssimple
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have huffedperfect
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has huffedperfect
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am huffingprogressive
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are huffingprogressive
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is huffingprogressive
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have been huffingperfect progressive
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has been huffingperfect progressive
Past
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huffedsimple
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had huffedperfect
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was huffingprogressive
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were huffingprogressive
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had been huffingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of huff
1575–85; imitative; see puff
Explanation
If you're in a huff, you're visibly annoyed or offended. Another kind of huff is to exhale. When the Big Bad Wolf was in a huff, he threatened, "Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!" People tend to flounce out of a room in a huff or storm away in a huff. If your soccer coach calls you off the field for being unsportsmanlike, you might be tempted to stomp off in a huff, convincing her that she was right. You could also describe this state as being "miffed" or "in a snit" or "in a fit of pique." In all cases, your irritation is obvious. Another meaning of huff is to exhale or blow loudly, especially from exertion. At the end of a marathon, you might huff and puff with exhaustion, but you'll be glad to pass the finish line.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The more social approach, and my personal preference, is to huff and glare at the human foghorn—and try to catch the eye of a fellow pissed-off commuter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
Skepticism predominated at the time, with Microsoft Chief Technology Officer Kevin Scott fearing OpenAI might "storm off to Amazon in a huff."
From Barron's ● May 11, 2026
The quip came up during a rapid-fire rundown of recent "SNL" controversies, including spats with Aimee Lou Wood and Morgan Wallen's post-show huff.
From Salon ● Apr. 24, 2025
Yes, spectacular squabbling siblings Oasis are back after their 15-year huff, ready to go Supersonic all over again.
From BBC ● Dec. 31, 2024
Her breath burst from her in a huff, as if someone had wrapped his arms around her and performed the Heimlich.
From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby
"They're already giving me the hump," he huffs.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
The morning included wide-eyed surprise and huffs from both parties, prompting a back and forth of retorts and accusations over three hours of discussion.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 1, 2024
We would pop the hot dumplings into our mouths far too quickly, and after a symphony of huffs and puffs, they would settle into our bellies and warm us from the inside out.
From Salon ● May 26, 2022
He spoke between huffs, closing his eyes with the effort.
From New York Times ● Jul. 12, 2021
She wipes her brow and huffs and puffs.
From "Hurricane Child" by Kheryn Callender
“I don’t understand why they’re still employed,” he once huffed to Joe Rogan.
From Salon ● Mar. 23, 2026
United, missing injured forwards Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha, huffed and puffed but could not find an equaliser despite 25 shots on goal to Everton's three.
From Barron's ● Nov. 24, 2025
“Yes, the company has agreed in principle to settle the lawsuit, and as reported, it does not include an apology,” Cheeks huffed to the investors, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
From Slate ● Jul. 3, 2025
The hosts huffed and puffed on Saturday but to no avail, leaving them trailing league leaders Liverpool by six points having played a game more.
From BBC ● Dec. 14, 2024
Ma huffed, dragging my suitcase in the house.
From "Monday's Not Coming" by Tiffany D. Jackson
Between every line of Ms. Haberman and Mr. Swan’s huffing disapproval of Mr. Trump’s reckless ignorance and impulsivity is their delight in having him as a subject, a ticket to the bestseller list.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
On Reddit, one user criticised the staging, which they described as a man "huffing and puffing around an exam hall".
From BBC ● May 14, 2026
“What about the kids? What about me?” she says, huffing away in her avatar’s spandex skeleton costume.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 17, 2025
Does he go with the biggest guy on the team in Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3 sophomore whose intense offseason training should prevent all the huffing he did as a freshman?
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2024
Hooves clopping and heavy huffing fills the room.
From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
