fuss

1 of 2

noun

ˈfəs 

1

a

: needless bustle or excitement

They got down to business without any fuss.

b

: a show of flattering attention

made a big fuss over his favorite niece

2

a

: a state of agitation especially over a trivial matter

… in a fuss and stew all afternoon.

—Molly L. Bar-David

b

: objection, protest

She accepted the new assignment without any fuss.

c

: an often petty controversy or quarrel

… the fuss they are raising … over certain words and phrases.

—B. J. Hendricks

fuss

2 of 2

verb

fussed; fussing; fusses

intransitive verb

1

a

: to create or be in a state of restless activity

especially : to shower flattering attentions

fussing over the grandchildren

b

: to pay close or undue attention to small details

fussed with the table setting

2

a

: to become upset : worry

b

: to express annoyance or pique : complain

transitive verb

: agitate, upset

fusser noun

Synonyms of fuss

Noun

• objection
• exception
• complaint
• question

Verb

• complain
• scream
• whine

Examples of fuss in a Sentence

Noun

They got down to business without any fuss.

What is all the fuss about?

Her new novel has caused quite a fuss.

I don't want to make a fuss, but this soup is cold.

Verb

She'll fuss the whole time we're gone.

I told him not to fuss.

The baby fussed all day.

Stop fussing and get to work!

He's fussing about his new assignment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Besides receiving the attention from the ever-dwindling number of farmers in our country, the Farm Bill cycle usually comes and goes every five years without anyone raising much of a fuss. —Anthony Pahnke, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026

Yannick Nézét-Séguin let the prelude speak with minimal fuss, then unspooled the rest of the score with total control, pulling the thread taut, relaxing it, and increasing the tension again, until by the end the orchestra bloomed into rapture. —Justin Davidson, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026

Verb

Ever the dedicated mother, Stacy runs to her adult daughter’s aid, fussing at her for not using a driver for her errands. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026

The crime went unsolved for many years, prompting Mason to start making this movie in the early 2000s, and the immediate conclusion to jump to is that the LAPD maybe wasn’t too fussed about it. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1701, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1792, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing fuss

• fuss over
• fuss with
• kick up a fuss/stink
• raise a fuss

Rhymes for fuss

• bus
• buss
• cuss
• glace
• huss
• plus
• pus
• russ
• sus
• suss
• thus
• truss

Kids Definition

fuss

1 of 2 noun

ˈfəs 

1

: unnecessary activity or excitement often over something unimportant

2

: protest entry 1

3

: a great show of interest

made a fuss over the baby

fuss

2 of 2 verb

: to make a fuss

fusser noun