buzz

1 of 2

verb

buzzed; buzzing; buzzes

intransitive verb

1
: to make a low continuous humming sound like that of a bee
2
b
: to be filled with a confused murmur
the room buzzed with excitement
3
: to make a signal with a buzzer
4
: to go quickly : hurry
buzzed around town in a sports car
also : scram
usually used with off
5
: to feel high especially from a drug

transitive verb

1
: to utter covertly by or as if by whispering
2
: to cause to buzz
3
: to fly fast and close to
planes buzz the crowd
4
: to summon or signal with a buzzer
also : to let in through an electronically controlled entrance
used with in or through
buzzed him in
5
dialectal, England : to drink to the last drop
get some more port whilst I buzz this bottleW. M. Thackeray

buzz

2 of 2

noun

1
: a persistent vibratory sound
2
a
: a confused murmur
b
c
: a flurry of activity
d
: fad, craze
e
: speculative or excited talk or attention relating especially to a new or forthcoming product or event
one of the few new shows that's getting good buzzTV Guide
also : an instance of such talk or attention
their first CD created a huge buzz
3
: a signal conveyed by buzzer
specifically : a telephone call
4
slang : high sense 4

Examples of buzz in a Sentence

Verb Flies were buzzing around the picnic tables. The hall buzzed with excitement as the audience waited for the show to start. My mind is buzzing with ideas. The nurse buzzed the doctor who was on duty. She buzzed her secretary to say she was going out for lunch. Ring the bell when you arrive and someone will buzz you into the building. Let me buzz you out. Noun We heard the buzz of the bees as we walked through the garden. When the machine is turned on, it makes a quiet buzz. There was a buzz of voices in the hall as the audience waited for the show to start. What's the latest buzz about their marriage? The buzz is that she turned down the job because the pay was too low. There's been quite a buzz about the new movie. The team's new players are creating a buzz among baseball fans. There's been a lot of buzz about the new movie.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles are buzzing after working with Taylor Swift on her new music video! Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024 The air was buzzing with rumors of a Drake appearance, and questions about what the hell was taking so long while little clouds of weed smoke popped up like NYC chimneys in the wintertime. Angel Diaz, Billboard, 18 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for buzz 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'buzz.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bussen, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of buzz was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near buzz

Cite this Entry

“Buzz.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buzz. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

buzz

1 of 2 verb
1
: to make a low continuous humming sound like that of a bee
2
: to be filled with a low hum or murmur
the room buzzed with excitement
3
: to send for or signal by means of a buzzer
4
: to fly an airplane low over

buzz

2 of 2 noun
1
: a sound of buzzing
2
a
: a signal given by a buzzer
b
: a telephone call

More from Merriam-Webster on buzz

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