schmooze
Americanverb (used without object)
noun
verb
-
(intr) to chat or gossip
-
(tr) to chat to (someone) for the purposes of self-promotion or to gain some advantage
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of schmooze
An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; from Yiddish, verb use of schmues, from Hebrew shəmūʿōth “reports, gossip”
Explanation
When you schmooze at a party, you chat with many different people. Being able to schmooze casually and confidently is a good quality in a hostess or a politician. If you say, "I just want to stop by the reception and schmooze for a little bit," it means you're going to see who's there and make smalltalk with various people. You might want to schmooze for fun, or take the opportunity to hand out your business card. You can call the conversation itself a schmooze too, and the word comes from the Yiddish shmuesn, "to chat" from shmues, "idle talk," with the Hebrew root shemu'oth, "rumors."
Vocabulary lists containing schmooze
English Words Derived from Yiddish
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Unteachables
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Way Back
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
After 4 p.m., they have ample time to clean up their books, meet with co-workers, schmooze with clients, and grab some sleep.
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2025
“He was very much inclined not to schmooze so much as to explain and then expect people to understand and then act on it.”
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 14, 2024
With Congress on recess, both the House and Senate sent sizable delegations to the annual Munich Security Conference to schmooze with world leaders about the pressing global issues of the day.
From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2024
Unlike his brother, Eric Trump did not schmooze with court staff during the breaks.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2023
Candidates were expected to schmooze with festival participants and take part in a dance-off, each man showing off fancy footwork while a traditional Zacatecan tamborazo band played.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2023
But since taking over the experiences unit, he has frequently collaborated with colleagues in entertainment and schmoozed with stars at movie premieres and events in the parks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026
Upper middle-class scions who went to the right schools, schmoozed at the right parties, and waited their respective turns for their time in the spotlight.
From Salon ● Dec. 9, 2025
At Tuesday's lunch, nominees including Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg, Michelle Yeoh and Angela Bassett schmoozed and posed for a group photo.
From Reuters ● Feb. 14, 2023
“People are ready to leave behind the isolation,” says an awards consultant who has schmoozed through the late-season events.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2022
At a recent bar mitzvah photo session, Mr. Rocha effortlessly schmoozed the family and joshed with the pensive bar mitzvah boy to get him to smile.
From New York Times ● Dec. 31, 2021
Top brokers walk the floors of countless buildings, swap insights over bad coffee, and turn years of schmoozing into multimillion-dollar commissions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 23, 2026
Just nine years ago, the documentary prankster John Wilson was here crashing on a couch and shooting a snarky short called “Escape From Park City” about his discomfort with its star-gazing and schmoozing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2026
But these members-only circles are more than expensive schmoozing — they're a business model, a status symbol and a growing part of the luxury market.
From Salon ● May 30, 2025
Fixing, schmoozing and scheming behind the scenes, the spin doctor who seemed to revel in his nickname the "Prince of Darkness".
From BBC ● Dec. 20, 2024
Either Muhammad is easily swayed by art mumbo jumbo or he wants to get back to schmoozing, because he begins backing up.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
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.
