scuff

1 of 2

verb

scuffed; scuffing; scuffs

intransitive verb

1
a
: to walk without lifting the feet : shuffle
b
: to poke or shuffle a foot in exploration or embarrassment
2
: to become scratched, chipped, or roughened by wear
a countertop that won't scuff

transitive verb

1
2
a
: to scrape (the feet) along a surface while walking or back and forth while standing
b
: to poke at with the toe
3
: to scratch, gouge, or wear away the surface of
scuffed my shoes

scuff

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a noise of or as if of scuffing
b
: the act or an instance of scuffing
c
: a mark or injury caused by scuffing
2
: a flat-soled slipper without quarter or heel strap compare mule

Examples of scuff in a Sentence

Verb She scuffed down the hall towards her room. scuffed up her shoes by rubbing her feet under the rung of the chair Noun She slid into her scuffs and headed into the kitchen.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
This smooth leather version of the boot is available in eight different colors this season and can be polished for a shinier coat or worn-in and scuffed up for a more casual look. Olivia Muenter, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024 The bag passed our durability tests with flying colors: the substantial nylon material never scuffed or tore, and was easy to wipe clean with a damp towel. Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2024 While the car seat was in great shape after testing, our tester did note that the canopy was scuffed from the handle. Jessica Booth, Parents, 14 Feb. 2024 Of those, between 60 and 72 balls are discarded after use, due to being scuffed, dirty or because of other imperfections. Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 28 Jan. 2024 Made with the same polycarbonate as the other suitcases, this bag also barely scuffed despite rough handling (being thrown off the counter). Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 11 Jan. 2024 The fitness tracking is flaky and the black version scuffs easily, but the four-day battery life is good. Matt Jancer, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2023 Sincerely, do not expect these to stay looking pristine for long — not since the weird early days of the iPod nano has an Apple product gotten scuffed this easily. Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 6 Feb. 2024 What to Consider The lighter colors are prone to scuffing. Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2023
Noun
Select materials that are easy to wipe down and that repel stains and scuffs. Samantha McIntyre, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024 Heritage obtained Eric’s ball of choice from the movie’s producer Bradley Thomas following its use in Kingpin; the prop has scuff marks and light chipping as a result. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2024 The exterior is a coated canvas material that will hold up to scuffs and is mostly water-resistant (the zippered closure helps keep the interior dry on rainy days). Erika Reals, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024 Some of the bags had light scuff marks that could be buffed out. Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 30 Jan. 2024 The owner took photos, and there are some minor scuffs on the black interior trim. Christopher Elliott, King Features Syndicate, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2024 Parents of kids who are rough on their stuff will appreciate that the seat, knees, ankle, scuffs and hems are reinforced. Karthika Gupta, Parents, 11 Jan. 2024 The Zipper Carry-on Max proved very durable in our tests, showing only minor superficial scuffs and no dents at all after whacking it with a metal baseball bat and shoving it multiple times off a table while fully packed. Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 26 Jan. 2024 The car’s front license plate had a bike tire scuff mark and indentation. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 2 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scuff.' 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

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

1768, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of scuff was in 1768

Dictionary Entries Near scuff

Cite this Entry

“Scuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scuff. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

scuff

1 of 2 verb
1
: to scrape the feet in walking : shuffle
2
: to become rough or scratched through wear

scuff

2 of 2 noun
: a noise or act of scuffing

More from Merriam-Webster on scuff

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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