puff
noun
a short, quick blast, as of wind or breath.
puffing
-
present participleof puff.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
He eventually entered to find his boss, Winston Churchill, and Gen. Charles de Gaulle, the leader of the Free French, puffing cigars and “sitting side by side with amiable expressions on their faces.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026
"Huffing and puffing at the back of the court is not the way these proceedings are done," said the unimpressed judge.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2025
With mighty Yankee Aaron Judge huffing and puffing at the plate, a lone insistent chant emerged from a Dodger fan lurking in the shadows.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2025
For air-fried burgers, flatten your patties as much as possible and press an indentation in the center to prevent them from puffing up.
From Salon ● Mar. 8, 2025
Huffing and puffing around the track, I’d thought I’d never catch my breath and would eventually drown in my own sweat.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
