1

buff

noun \ ˈbəf \

|Updated on: 23 Jun 2018

Examples: buff in a Sentence

Definition of buff

1 : a garment (such as a uniform) made of buff leather

2 : the state of being nude

sunbathing in the buff

3 a : a moderate orange yellow

b : a light to moderate yellow

4 : a device having a soft absorbent surface (as of cloth) by which polishing material is applied

5

[earlier buff an enthusiast about going to fires; perhaps from the buff overcoats worn by volunteer firefighters in New York City about 1820]

: fan, enthusiast

See buff defined for kids

Examples of buff in a Sentence

he's such a film buff that he owns over 3,000 movies
protected by a fully enclosed backyard, the couple would frequently sunbathe in the buff

Recent Examples of buff from the Web

That’s not to say that these classifications — horror buffs, horror wimps — are totally set in stone.

— cari romm, The Cut, "What Your Ability to Handle Horror Movies Says About You," 14 June 2018
Soccer presents buff, handsome men in an inherently hunky medium, sprinting across electric-green grass under dramatic stadium lighting with sweat glistening in their hair and sinewy muscles peeking out from behind flattering uniforms.

— ted berg, For The Win, "7 reasons even soccer haters can appreciate the World Cup," 13 June 2018
Other than teachers, or some history buffs, there aren’t many who remember Memorial Day’s beginnings as Decoration Day, a way to honor Union soldiers who died in the Civil War.

— editorial from the aegis, The Aegis, "A day for remembering [Editoral]," 27 May 2018
While movie buffs know Paul Schrader as the guy who wrote Taxi Driver, more deep-dive film scholars know him as the onetime critic who wrote a defining book about what’s called the transcendental style in film.

— gary thompson, Philly.com, "'Taxi Driver' writer has infused his new movie 'First Reformed' with with the tension you loved the first time around," 25 May 2018
But some movie buffs noticed the dress seemed to be an homage to another famous mother.

— mike miller, PEOPLE.com, "Kate Middleton's Baby Reveal Dress Looks Like It's from Rosemary's Baby and Twitter Is Losing It," 27 Apr. 2018
Guy Hanford, a film buff, retired after a 39-year teaching career in Ramona.

— guy hanford, Ramona Sentinel, "Flickers: ‘Blockers,’ ‘Chappaquiddick’ open Friday," 2 Apr. 2018
Check out this tutorial from Dave Killen, an Oregonian auto buff with several Minnesota winters under his belt.

— samantha swindler, OregonLive.com, "People are still playing Pokemon Go, apparently: Forest Grove police log," 19 Feb. 2018
This sweet but savory popcorn seasoning makes a great gift for a movie buff.

— Country Living, "Coconut-Curry Popcorn Seasoning," 26 July 2010

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'buff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of buff

Middle French buffle wild ox, from Old Italian bufalo

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1570

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

buff Synonyms

Synonyms

addict, aficionado (also afficionado), bug, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fanatic, fancier, fiend, fool, freak, habitué (also habitue), head, hound, junkie (also junky), lover, maniac, maven (also mavin), nut, sucker;

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

belittler, carper, critic, detractor;

Related Words

admirer, amateur, collector, connoisseur, dilettante;

authority, expert;

adherent, convert, cultist, disciple, follower, hanger-on, votary;

advocate, apostle, backer, champion, evangelist, exponent, friend, patron, promoter, proponent, supporter;

partisan (also partizan), zealot;

booster, rooter, well-wisher;

Other Color Terms

argentine, cerise, cerulean, cyan, ocher, perse, puce, taupe, vermilion

2

buff

adjective

Definition of buff

1 : of the color buff

2 or buffed : having a physique enhanced by bodybuilding exercises

See buff defined for English-language learners

Examples of buff in a Sentence

He's at the gym every day trying to get buff.
the buff body of an athlete

Recent Examples of buff from the Web

Many animals compensate for puny muscles with speed, but muscles—even in the buffest bodybuilder—can only contract so fast.

— National Geographic, "Watch Spider Jaws Move as Quickly as World's Fastest Runner," 7 Apr. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'buff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of buff

1746

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Color Terms

argentine, cerise, cerulean, cyan, ocher, perse, puce, taupe, vermilion

3

buff

verb

Definition of buff

buffed; buffing; buffs

transitive verb

1 : polish, shine

waxed and buffed the floor

2 : to give a velvety surface to (leather)

See buff defined for English-language learners

Examples of buff in a Sentence

The floors are waxed and buffed every year.
She is going to the salon to get her nails buffed.

Recent Examples of buff from the Web

More often, that A-list glow comes by way of body bronzers — plus a 24/7 glam squad that can rub and buff them to perfection.

— refinery29.com, "I Tried $292 Worth Of Body Bronzers — & Didn't Ruin All My Clothes," 29 May 2018
The star sprayed a small amount of the product on a paper towel and buffed at the lines.

— jillian ruffo, PEOPLE.com, "Ashley Graham Uses Windex to Fix Her Spray Tan Streaks," 29 May 2018
The win buys Steve Bieser’s team additional time to buff up its resume, which isn’t good enough to safely get into the NCAA Tournament.

— alex schiffer, kansascity, "Mizzou Monday: A Jontay Porter return? Jordan Barnett in the NBA and more | The Kansas City Star," 21 May 2018
Oribe dry texturizing spray, $48; birchbox.com For Polished, Glowy Skin This natural product is a gentle exfoliator, which buffs skin to be the perfect canvas for any makeup look.

— alex apatoff, PEOPLE.com, "How to Get Meghan Markle's Glowy Bridal Beauty Look," 19 May 2018
In an interview, Irwin Trauss, a veteran lawyer with Philadelphia Legal Assistance who advocates on behalf of homeowners in foreclosure, said the spending was in part an effort to buff Green’s image.

— jeremy roebuck, Philly.com, "Sheriff sale ads: A bonanza for the politically connected in Philly," 27 Apr. 2018
In a nod to contemporary trends and to buffed, young guys, the shirts come in four fits: the Traditional, the Madison, the Regent and, the slimmest, the Milano.

— teri agins, New York Times, "With a Glance Backward, Brooks Brothers Looks to the Future," 21 Apr. 2018
The Trailhawk version has two front tow hooks and one in the rear to buff up its off-road looks.

— robert duffer, chicagotribune.com, "2017 Jeep Compass Trailhawk better off road than on," 14 Nov. 2017
Offering tools to help us manage our Internet usage may buff up Google’s corporate image.

— hiawatha bray, BostonGlobe.com, "Even Google won’t make us put down our phones," 8 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'buff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of buff

1838

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

buff Synonyms

Synonyms

burnish, dress, furbish, gloss, grind, polish, rub, shine, smooth;

Near Antonyms

rough (up), roughen, ruffle, scuff (up);

Related Words

coat, glaze, japan, lacquer, varnish;

face, finish, veneer;

file, rasp, sand, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scrub;

bob, bone, lap;

BUFF Defined for English Language Learners

buff

adjective

Definition of buff for English Language Learners

: having a strong, muscular body or form

buff

verb

Definition of buff for English Language Learners

: to make (a surface) smooth and shiny by rubbing it

BUFF Defined for Kids

1

buff

noun \ ˈbəf \

Definition of buff for Students

1 : a pale orange yellow

2 : a stick or wheel with a soft surface for applying polish

3 : ³fan a music buff

2

buff

verb

Definition of buff for Students

buffed; buffing

: to polish with or as if with a buff

Learn More about buff

See words that rhyme with buff Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for buff Spanish Central: Translation of buff Nglish: Translation of buff for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of buff for Arabic speakers

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