What does huffed mean?
Huffed is the past tense and past participle of huff, a verb meaning to breathe heavily or loudly, usually because of exertion, excitement, or exertion combined with irritation. It is common in expressions such as 'huffed and puffed,' which evokes someone who is out of breath and complaining. In informal British and American English, huff can also mean to show annoyance or indignation, as in 'she was huffed about the change.' The word is often used in figurative and mildly playful contexts, especially when describing someone who is making a complaint or fuss. Its standard pronunciation is /hʌft/, with the vowel of 'cup' and the final consonant of 'cuff'.
verbTo breathe heavily or loudly, especially after exertion. In informal contexts, it can also mean to express annoyance or displeasure in a huff.
- To breathe heavily or loudly.
- To express annoyance or displeasure in a noisy or aggrieved manner.
"After climbing the stairs, she sat down and puffed for a moment."
"He hummed and puffed as he carried the heavy box up the stairs."
"She was huffed about the delay and demanded an explanation."
Huffed and puffed is the classic image of someone who is breathing laboriously—but it can also describe a person who is simply making a fuss.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does huffed come from?
The word 'huff' is an English formation generally understood to imitate the sound of heavy breathing. It developed both the sense of breathing forcefully and the related informal sense of noisy complaint, as in expressions such as 'huff and puff.' The related forms 'huffy,' 'huffish,' and 'huffiness' belong to the same word family and preserve the idea of irritation or an aggrieved manner.
Related word forms
How huffed is actually used
The breathing sense is common in informal English. The sense meaning to show annoyance is also informal and often appears in the phrase 'huff and puff'; the adjective use 'huffed' is especially associated with the expression 'huffed and puffed'.