1
: an ostinato phrase (as in jazz) typically supporting a solo improvisation
also
: a piece based on such a phrase
2
: a rapid energetic often improvised verbal outpouring
especially
: one that is part of a comic performance
3
: a succinct usually witty comment
4
: a distinct variation : take
a disturbing … riff on the Cinderella story—
Daria Donnelly
Daria Donnelly
riffed; riffing; riffs
: to perform, deliver, or make use of a riff
Examples of riff in a Sentence
Noun
He stole that riff from another song.
a mock news program with humorous riffs on current events
Recent Examples on the Web
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The other range is built on the Endurance Pro, with the riffs on the titanium dive watch costing $4,400 apiece.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2025
Chris Almeida, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2025
For example, while experts use chatbots as collaboration tools—riffing on ideas, clarifying intuitions—novices often treat them mistakenly as automation tools, oracles that speak from a bottomless well of knowledge.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riff
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Noun
One of the luminaries del Toro and crew are competing against at Venice 2025, interestingly, is Yorgos Lanthimos, who previously proffered his own riff on Frankenstein with Poor Things.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The other range is built on the Endurance Pro, with the riffs on the titanium dive watch costing $4,400 apiece.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
André settles in for a minute, riffing with O’Brien about his own series, a parody of late-night talk shows, which had recently premièred on Adult Swim.
—Chris Almeida, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2025
For example, while experts use chatbots as collaboration tools—riffing on ideas, clarifying intuitions—novices often treat them mistakenly as automation tools, oracles that speak from a bottomless well of knowledge.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riff
Cite this Entry
“Riff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riff. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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