to puff
Third Person
puffs
Present Participle
puffing
Past Tense
puffed
Past Participle
puffed
1
to inhale and exhale smoke from a pipe, cigarette, or cigar
- Smokers puff on cigarettes to inhale and exhale the smoke.
- She took a deep drag and began to puff on her cigar.
- Children love to puff on pretend cigarettes when playing make-believe.
- He puffed on his cigar, looking out over the city skyline.
- He sat in the garden, puffing slowly on his pipe and watching the birds.
Synonyms:
2
to breathe in short, quick gasps with effort or exertion
- After running up the stairs, she began to puff, struggling to catch her breath.
- He puffed in short bursts, trying to calm his racing heart after the sprint.
- The dog puffed heavily after the long walk in the heat.
- She puffed with exertion as she climbed the steep hill.
- He was puffing loudly after carrying the heavy boxes up the stairs.
3
to blow dust, smoke, or a light object away with a quick burst of air
transitive
- He puffed the dust off the old book before opening it.
- The wind puffed the light leaves across the yard.
- He puffed the ash off his jacket after the bonfire.
- The child puffed air across the surface of the water, making ripples.
4
to expand or become larger, often due to air, pressure, or a change in shape
- The sails of the boat puffed in the wind, filling with air.
- The bread dough began to puff as it rose in the warm oven.
- The pastry puffed in the oven, turning golden brown.
- The pillow puffed up as she fluffed it with her hands.
5
to speak or behave in a boastful, arrogant, or overly self-important way
- She puffed during the interview, making exaggerated claims about her expertise.
- He puffed in front of his friends, pretending to know more than he really did.
- The actor puffed, acting as though he was the most talented person in the room.
- She puffed about her latest promotion, making it sound like she had achieved the impossible.
- He puffed at the party, trying to impress everyone with his expensive watch.
6
to promote or publicize something with excessive or misleading praise
transitive
- He puffed the book in interviews, exaggerating its impact and quality.
- They puffed the restaurant's menu, making it sound like a gourmet experience.
- The magazine puffed the latest gadget, promising it could do things it couldn’t.
- She puffed her business, claiming to have a large clientele when it was just starting.
- The ad puffed the movie, making it seem like the best thriller ever made.
Synonyms:
7
to cause someone to become excessively proud or self-important
transitive
- The praise from her boss puffed her ego, making her feel invincible.
- The way they treated him after the award puffed his sense of self-worth.
- The accolades puffed his confidence to the point of arrogance.
- He was puffed by the attention, becoming more conceited as time passed.
- He was puffed with pride after receiving so much attention for his accomplishments.