riff
noun
a melodic phrase, often constantly repeated, forming an accompaniment or part of an accompaniment for a soloist.
riffed
-
past participleof riff.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof riff.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
riffnouna melodic phrase, often constantly repeated, forming an accompaniment or part of an accompaniment for a soloist. -
a word form of
rif.
rifverb (used with object)to discharge (a person) from military or civil service, especially as part of an economy program.
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.
President Donald Trump riffed on his White House predecessors in a children's podcast Friday, while also joking about his weight and musing as to whether his body is swimsuit-ready.
From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026
Bono has, for decades, riffed on this concept: “America isn’t just a country, it’s an idea.”
From Salon ● Mar. 10, 2026
Olivia Xing, who is “made in China,” as she says, riffed on why she married her husband.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026
At a crypto event in June, a video that riffed on an old movie showed Tenev speeding through the French Riviera in a convertible.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 26, 2025
And then a sound riffed into that silence.
From "Silent To The Bone" by E.L. Konigsburg
