puzzle
PUH-zuhl
Puzzle (verb) means to confuse or mystify someone. Example: “The instructions puzzled me because the pictures did not match the words.”
verb
1
To confuse or mystify someone.
"The instructions puzzled me because the pictures did not match the words."
"The strange results puzzled the scientists for months."
"His sudden silence puzzled everyone at the table."
2
To think hard about something confusing in order to work it out.
"We puzzled over the map for an hour, trying to find the quickest route."
"He sat puzzling over how the magician had made the coin disappear."
"She puzzled over the riddle for a good ten minutes."
noun
1
A game, toy, or problem designed to test ingenuity or knowledge.
"My grandmother does a crossword puzzle with her tea every morning."
"The teacher gave the class a logic puzzle to solve before the bell."
"He finished the jigsaw puzzle in a single afternoon."
How to use puzzle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo confuse someone, or to think hard trying to solve something confusing.
Common pairings
puzzle over
crossword puzzle
piece together the puzzle
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- puzzles
- Past tense
- puzzled
- Archaic forms
- puzzlest, puzzledst, puzzleth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The instructions _____ me because the pictures did not match the words.
Etymology
Origin uncertain, though it's linked to old dialect words meaning to potter, trifle, or search about in confusion.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for puzzle
See all rhymes for puzzle →Frequently asked questions
What does “puzzle” mean?
The word “puzzle” means to confuse or mystify someone. In plain terms, to confuse someone, or to think hard trying to solve something confusing.
How do you pronounce “puzzle”?
“Puzzle” is pronounced PUH-zuhl (/ˈpʌzəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “puzzle” in a sentence?
Here is “puzzle” used in a sentence: “The strange results puzzled the scientists for months.”
What part of speech is “puzzle”?
Depending on how it is used, “puzzle” can be a verb and a noun.
Is “puzzle” a common word?
“Puzzle” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “puzzle” have?
“Puzzle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to confuse or mystify someone.
What is the difference between a puzzle and a riddle?
A riddle is a specific kind of puzzle expressed as a question or statement with a clever or hidden answer, usually solved by insight. A puzzle is the broader term for any game, toy, or problem designed to test ingenuity, including jigsaws, crosswords, and logic problems.
What is the difference between puzzle and confuse?
Both mean to bewilder someone, but 'puzzle' suggests the confusion comes from something intriguing that invites you to work it out. 'Confuse' is broader and can simply mean to muddle, mislead, or make something unclear, without any sense of an interesting problem to solve.
What is the difference between 'puzzle over' and 'puzzle out'?
To 'puzzle over' something means to think hard about something confusing, focusing on the effort itself, as in 'she puzzled over the message.' To 'puzzle out' means to succeed in solving it through that effort, as in 'he finally puzzled out the answer.'
What are common collocations with the word puzzle?
Common noun pairings include 'jigsaw puzzle,' 'crossword puzzle,' 'puzzle piece,' and 'logic puzzle.' As a verb, it often appears in 'puzzle over,' 'puzzle out,' and the phrase 'it puzzles me.'
