What does puffed mean?
Puffed is the past tense and past participle of the verb puff, and it can also function as an adjective. Its uses range from literal physical actions to sharply figurative judgments. A person may be puffed after running uphill, while wind or smoke may puff into the air. Puffed cheeks, eyes, or fabric describe swelling or distension, and the expression puffed with pride suggests exaggerated self-satisfaction or importance. In older and literary usage, puff can also mean to boast or to praise something noisily, so a person may puff oneself up or puff someone's achievements. The word is common in both British and American English, but modern usage most often emphasizes breathlessness, inflation, or self-important pride. Its flexibility makes it useful in descriptions where a plain expanded or breathed heavily would lose the vividness and evaluative nuance of puff.
Breathed hard, swelled, blew or emitted air or smoke, boasted, or praised or publicized something.
"He puffed up the stairs and puffed out his chest when he reached the top."
Inflated, swollen, or affected by breathlessness; in figurative use, characterized by excessive pride or self-importance.
"She puffed herself up with pride after the announcement."
One puff can mean breathing hard, swelling, sending out smoke, or boasting—four surprisingly different ideas from the same simple word.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does puffed come from?
The form puffed is the simple past tense and past participle of puff. Puff comes through Middle English from Old French pouf, an imitative word associated with the sound or action of blowing. Its later senses developed from the ideas of breathing, swelling, and making oneself appear important, with related forms such as puffy and puffball reflecting the same word family.
Related word forms
How puffed is actually used
As a participial adjective, puffed is often descriptive and slightly informal, especially when describing someone who is breathless. In figurative uses involving pride or self-importance, it carries a mildly critical or mocking tone.