huff

[ huhf ]
See synonyms for: huffhuffed on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a mood of sulking anger; a fit of resentment: Just because you disagree, don't walk off in a huff.

verb (used with object)
  1. to give offense to; make angry.

  2. to treat with arrogance or contempt; bluster at; hector or bully.

  1. Checkers. to remove (a piece) from the board as a penalty for failing to make a compulsory capture.

  2. Slang. to inhale the vapors of in order to become intoxicated: to huff glue.

verb (used without object)
  1. to take offense; speak indignantly.

  2. to puff or blow; breathe heavily.

  1. to swell with pride or arrogance; swagger or bluster.

Origin of huff

1
1575–85; imitative; see puff

Other words for huff

Words Nearby huff

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use huff in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for huff

huff

/ (hʌf) /


noun
  1. a passing mood of anger or pique (esp in the phrase in a huff)

verb
  1. to make or become angry or resentful

  2. (intr) to blow or puff heavily

  1. Also: blow draughts to remove (an opponent's draught) from the board for failure to make a capture

  2. (tr) obsolete to bully

  3. huffing and puffing empty threats or objections; bluster

Origin of huff

1
C16: of imitative origin; compare puff

Derived forms of huff

  • huffish or huffy, adjective
  • huffily or huffishly, adverb
  • huffiness or huffishness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with huff

huff

In addition to the idiom beginning with huff

  • huff and puff

also see:

  • in a huff

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.