What does barfing mean?
Barfing is an informal present participle meaning “vomiting” or “bringing up the contents of the stomach.” It is used in ordinary conversation to describe a person or animal expelling food, liquid, or other stomach contents, often with a sense of immediacy, discomfort, or mild humor: “The child was barfing after eating too many sweets.” The word can also describe something forcefully ejecting material, such as an engine emitting smoke or a pipe disgorging water, though this sense is less usual. Barfing is characteristic of casual speech rather than formal writing; medical and academic contexts generally use “vomiting” instead. Its bluntness makes it especially memorable and useful when the event itself is the important part of the message. The related base verb is “barf,” and forms such as “barfs” and “barfed” occur, though “barfing” is by far the most familiar form.
verb (present participle/gerund)Informal, to vomit or bring up the contents of the stomach. It can also mean to expel or disgorge material forcefully.
- Vomiting or bringing up the contents of the stomach.
- Expelling or disgorging material forcefully, such as smoke, water, or food.
"The dog was barfing on the kitchen floor."
"She was barfing into the sink after the long drive."
"The old engine began barfing black smoke as soon as it started."
Barfing is a blunt, no-nonsense word: when the stomach is involved, it wastes no time on euphemism.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Related word forms
How barfing is actually used
Informal and often humorous, though it can also convey disgust or urgency. In medical, formal, or educational contexts, “vomiting” is usually preferred. The second sense, involving the forceful expulsion of material, is less common and often humorous.