quaff
Americanverb (used without object)
-
quaffs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
quaffed,
past participle, past
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quaffing
present participle
verb (used with object)
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quaffs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
quaffed,
past participle, past
-
quaffing
present participle
noun
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an act or instance of quaffing.
-
a beverage quaffed.
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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quaffsimple
-
quaffssimple
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have quaffedperfect
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has quaffedperfect
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am quaffingprogressive
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are quaffingprogressive
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is quaffingprogressive
-
have been quaffingperfect progressive
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has been quaffingperfect progressive
Past
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quaffedsimple
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had quaffedperfect
-
was quaffingprogressive
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were quaffingprogressive
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had been quaffingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of quaff
First recorded in 1515–25; origin uncertain
Explanation
To quaff is to gulp. You’re in a desert; you haven’t had water in days; you’re wicked thirsty. Then you find an oasis! You lean over and quaff the water. If you’re in a room with your favorite foods, you might stuff the food into your mouth. Quaffing is the same fun, but with beverages instead of foods. But just like with stuffing food, quaffing means you drink a little too much. Often, quaffing refers to alcoholic drinks, but it can mean any beverage in general, like milkshakes. Quaff a milkshake and you’ll get a headache, but you’ll have fun doing it.
Vocabulary lists containing quaff
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe
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Twelfth Night
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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:
Unruly salt-and-pepper hair in a long quaff, round glasses and broad smile give James Ortiz the look of a whimsical inventor, the kind that hides away in his workshop crafting extraordinary artifacts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2026
It’s the outline of Mr. Trump’s head – complete with quaff, bushy eyebrows and long neck.
From Salon ● Apr. 18, 2024
Evict her and this garbage premise from your brain, and quaff happily as you will!
From New York Times ● Jul. 1, 2021
Wines made from the picpoul grape tend to be refreshers — crisp, easy to quaff and simple.
From Washington Post ● May 22, 2020
I'm in the midst of taking a quaff of my ale and I nearly spit it all over the table.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
Patent absurdity, of course, as much then as now — no matter how many 3D-printed organs we churn out, how long we extend our telomeres, nor how many quaffs of plasma we down.
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2023
In other Trump paintings on view, Saul paints the president’s blonde quaffs floating around a canvas.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 19, 2020
Before the quaffs of Champagne, though, I had to do some legwork.
From New York Times ● Sep. 20, 2016
Both the Port City Optimal Wit and the 3 Stars Above the Clouds, a refreshing farmhouse pale ale, are perfect summer quaffs.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 1, 2015
Just, just the joy thou feelest—it o'er views, The happiest land that quaffs the sun's bright hues.
From Lays of Ancient Virginia, and Other Poems by James Avis Bartley
I drank tea, quaffed vitamins, eschewed sudden movements.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 29, 2026
And Ken No. 2 star Liu commented on his doll’s perfectly quaffed hair: “I’m a little jealous to be honest.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2023
Those are the most delightful roles to play because you get to portray this one thing: this glossy, pretty, perfectly quaffed exterior.
From Salon ● Apr. 30, 2023
The Blonds partnered with Preciosa for the crystals seen in the show, Christian Louboutin for the custom shoes and Oribe Hair Care for the quaffed wigs, Blond said.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 15, 2023
Chiswyck cackled, quaffed his ale, and wiped the foam away with the back of his hand.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
They were chatting with each other on the Signal app as they chowed down on steaks at the Palm while Hegseth white-knuckled it through everyone else at his table quaffing their Martinis and Negronis.
From Salon ● Mar. 25, 2025
As cockle-warming as it is to imagine characters we know and love seeing out their days quaffing sangria and playing Articulate!, it obviously wouldn’t make for a very good film.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 21, 2020
Hirscher spoke Sunday night, at a long table next to a bar at Austria House, wearing red sneakers and jeans, surrounded by men quaffing sweet wine and Stiegl.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 11, 2018
As for Clinton, last seen in Youngstown on Saturday night, talking to entrepreneurs, then quaffing a beer during a local bar's early St. Patrick's Day event?
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 15, 2016
Here, quaffing mead from out the shell Sit ye, my Courtmen bold, Whilst I go to the mountain drear, Speech with the Dead to hold!
From Young Swaigder, or The Force of Runes and Other Ballads by Thomas James Wise
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.
