noun

huff

huhf

Huff (noun) means a fit of annoyance or offended pride. Example: “She stormed off in a huff after losing the argument.”

noun

A fit of annoyance or offended pride.

"She stormed off in a huff after losing the argument."

verb

To breathe out heavily, especially in annoyance or exertion.

"He huffed and puffed as he climbed the stairs."

"She huffed loudly when told to wait her turn."

To react with irritation or wounded pride.

"He huffed at the suggestion that he was wrong."

(slang) To inhale a substance, especially a solvent, to get high.

"The article warned parents about teens huffing aerosol cans."

How to use huff

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo breathe out sharply in annoyance, or to be visibly irritated — also slang for inhaling drugs from an aerosol.

Common mistake

Don't confuse the everyday sense (annoyance) with the drug-related slang sense — context makes the difference clear.

Common pairings

huff and puff in a huff huff loudly

Word forms

huffed past tense, huffs plural, Huffs plural, huffs singular

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She stormed off in a _____ after losing the argument.

Etymology

Probably an altered form of an older word meaning "to breathe hard, pant," related to a similar German word for breathing heavily.

Origin: German

Synonyms

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puff snort miff chuff seeing red

Related words

blow cloud marijuana breeze puff gasp flatter anus

Rhymes for huff

buff duff muff ruff tuff cuff puff guff stuff bluff gruff fluff

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Frequently asked questions

What does “huff” mean?

The word “huff” means a fit of annoyance or offended pride. In plain terms, to breathe out sharply in annoyance, or to be visibly irritated — also slang for inhaling drugs from an aerosol.

How do you pronounce “huff”?

“Huff” is pronounced huhf (/hʌf/ in IPA).

How do you use “huff” in a sentence?

Here is “huff” used in a sentence: “She stormed off in a huff after losing the argument.”

What part of speech is “huff”?

Depending on how it is used, “huff” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “huff” come from?

The word “huff” comes from German. Probably an altered form of an older word meaning "to breathe hard, pant," related to a similar German word for breathing heavily.

How many meanings does “huff” have?

“Huff” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a fit of annoyance or offended pride.

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Vocabulary lists that include huff:

Words with German origins Words that end with F

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