What does puff mean?
Puff describes a brief, concentrated action of blowing or breathing and, as a noun, the small burst of air, smoke, steam, or vapor that results. The verb is especially common with engines, cigarettes, clouds, and people breathing hard after exertion: a train puffs, a smoker takes a puff, and a runner may puff and pant. Puff can also mean to inflate or swell, as in “puff up the cushions,” though “puff out one’s chest” and “puff with pride” more often suggest self-importance or boastful satisfaction. As a noun, a puff is modest in size but noticeable because it often appears suddenly and then disperses. The word is useful in both literal descriptions and idiomatic expressions, where a visible cloud or an outward display of pride can be portrayed with the same compact image.
To blow or breathe in short, forceful bursts; to inflate or swell; or to express pride or self-importance.
"The engine puffed clouds of smoke while the competitors waited at the starting line."
In “puff with pride” and “puff out one’s chest,” the verb usually implies self-importance or affected confidence.
A short burst of air, breath, smoke, steam, or vapor.
"A puff of smoke escaped through the cracked window."
The noun often suggests something small and briefly visible, though it can refer to a substantial cloud of smoke or steam.
The plural is used for individual bursts of air, smoke, breath, or vapor.
"She took a few puffs from the cigarette before putting it out."
A puff may be tiny, but it can reveal a smoker's habits, a burst of exertion, or a cloud large enough to linger in the air.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does puff come from?
Puff is recorded in English from the Middle English period, when it referred both to blowing and to a short blast of air. Its verb and noun senses developed closely together, with later uses extending naturally to inflated objects, smoke, steam, engines, and emphatic displays of pride. Related English forms such as puffer, puffy, and puffball preserve the word's association with blowing, swelling, and rounded volume.
Related word forms
How puff is actually used
The verb is common in descriptions of engines, smokers, breathing, and clouds of smoke or steam. In phrases such as puff out one's chest or puff with pride, it carries a connotation of pride, self-importance, or affected confidence.
Easily confused with puff
As an adjective, puffy describes something swollen or inflated, whereas puff usually describes the action of blowing or a short burst of air.
Puff can mean to breathe in short, forceful bursts, while pant more specifically means to breathe quickly and heavily, often after exertion.