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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The city also buzzes with creativity, which spills over into the vibrant nightlife; the ruin bars district is a tangible example of crafting opportunity from the ashes of adversity following the brutality of Communist rule. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2023 Balancing heart-racing garage rhythms and buzzing vintage indie rock with themes of social responsibility and creative transformation, the singer-producer’s full-length debut is whimsical like its synth-flute overture and totally serious, too. Pitchfork, 5 Dec. 2023 The restaurant emanates the glamour and sophistication of the South of France while still offering a relaxed atmosphere in buzzing Las Vegas. Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 But after Kissinger took her out to dinner at Beverly Hills’ Bistro Garden, and the pair returned to her place, they were interrupted when the president buzzed his beeper. Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2023 Located in the buzzing neighborhood of Mott Haven, visitors can choose from dishes with a cross-cultural blend of cooking styles paying homage to its rich Puerto Rican and Black influence. Kareema Bee, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023 The need for more braiders buzzed throughout many of the Cameroonian circles in the area. Lateshia Beachum, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023 Don’t miss out on the chance to snag these popular picks at incredible Black Friday prices and discover why TikTok is buzzing about them. Samantha Booth, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023 The energy in the room was electric, both guests and servers buzzing through the dining room, equally mesmerized by the illuminated wreaths in the windows (the festive decorating started early) and the sound of Champagne corks popping every few minutes. Carly Westerfield, Bon Appétit, 20 Nov. 2023
Noun
First came the buzz of drones, followed by the boom of explosions from the direction of the camp and the pop-pop-pop of gunfire. Lorenzo Tugnoli, Washington Post, 5 Dec. 2023 Anyone who likes to spike their coffee will get a bit of a buzz from White Barn’s surprisingly sophisticated coffee and whiskey scent. Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 4 Dec. 2023 On Target View On Ulta For the person whose phone is constantly lighting up with pings, buzzes, and calls, treat them to this nourishing treatment — which essentially serves as a worthy excuse to sign off and unplug. Deanna Pai, Peoplemag, 3 Dec. 2023 Overall, from the fans to the players to the coaches, the In-Season Tournament generated more buzz and attention than normal regular season games. Brian Sampson, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 The buzz surrounding MediaTek casts a spotlight on growing competition between semiconductor firms that are exploiting the use of AI to grab a larger share of the smartphone business. Charlotte Yang, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2023 Elsewhere during the conversation, which took place before the Chiefs' home game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, Mahomes was asked if the buzz around the romance feels bigger than winning two Super Bowls. Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 19 Nov. 2023 Influencer content is great for buzz, reach and clicks. Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Nov. 2023 The Beyoncé reporter job at USA Today, which drew buzz and controversy alongside a similar gig covering Taylor Swift, was filled earlier this week. Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023 See More

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 10 Dec. 2023.

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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