barf

verb

ˈbärf 

barfed; barfing; barfs

intransitive verb

US, informal : vomit

Acute mountain sickness is typified by a headache that feels as if Thor himself is hammering your brain and by a strong desire to barf.

—Douglas Gantenbein

In a pure Madonna moment, she sticks two fingers down her throat and pretends to barf.

—Peter Travers

barf noun US, informal

"Lemme take you to the bar," he yells to a guest who bellies up and immediately skids in a puddle of barf.

—Guy Trebay

Synonyms of barf

• vomit

Examples of barf in a Sentence

The movie was so disgusting that it made me want to barf.

the movie's in-your-face violence made us want to barf

Recent Examples on the Web

Then Holland got up to snap a photo with Bernthal and Evans and barfed on the floor. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026

The young stars of these videos might be opening Amazon packages, sitting in a dentist’s chair, lip-synching to Morgan Wallen in an all-white kitchen beneath a giant box-pendant light fixture, or barfing. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026

New Royals outfielder Isaac Collins barfed while riding on a roller coaster. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026

Tell your dog to barf on my shoes. — Outside Online, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing barf

• barf bag

Rhymes for barf

• scarf
• scharf
• headscarf

Kids Definition

barf

verb

ˈbärf 

informal

: vomit entry 2