bluff
adjective
good-naturedly direct, blunt, or frank; heartily outspoken.
was bluffing
-
past progressiveof bluff.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
“I think he was bluffing me, and he was trying to get me to agree.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
“And, of course, I didn’t have a film festival. I had an idea for a film festival. So I was bluffing on both sides.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2025
"A lot of people thought he was bluffing on more than a few things," he says.
From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2025
Maybe he was bluffing, but nobody could be sure.
From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2024
He was asking for a king’s ransom, and he was bluffing.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
