goofed; goofing; goofs
1
a
: to spend time idly or foolishly
—usually used with off
goofing off instead of working
b
: to engage in playful activity
—usually used with around
goofing around after school
2
: to make a usually foolish or careless mistake : blunder
—often used with up
: to make a mess of : bungle
—usually used with up
goofed up the assignment
Synonyms
Examples of goof in a Sentence
Noun
Don't be such a goof.
I made a major goof.
Verb
It was clear that someone had goofed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lars Brandle, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2023
Business Insider - Give up the goof: An industrial and organizational psychology professor finds that silly interview questions can actually turn off applicants.
—Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 31 July 2023
Worse, the masculine voice sounded distinctly British, the kind of goof that might raise eyebrows in some Irish homes.
—Bernhard Warner, BostonGlobe.com, 1 July 2023
In the carousel of photos, Braylon goofs towards the camera, holds up a massive fish, poses with his dad and shows off some of his birthday gifts.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 30 May 2023
With stardom just a compromise away, Ani DiFranco chides her fans, goofs on the media, and wishes major labels would get the bleep off her answering machine.
—Jonathan Van Meter, SPIN, 8 Apr. 2023
But Smiths is much more than an eccentric goof.
—Darren Franich, EW.com, 11 Aug. 2021
The 2012 book Math Goes to the Movies points out a few huge goofs, including the title sequence’s misrepresentation of pi’s decimal expansion.
—WIRED, 14 Mar. 2023
Another Joe Rogan goof.
—Ryan Faughnderstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2023
Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
This is true, too: The Chargers have still managed to goof it up.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Nov. 2023
In fact, as viewers can tell from PEOPLE's exclusive behind-the-scenes featurette (which was filmed in Atlanta prior to the start of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike), the duo are almost certain to be goofing off between takes of the gritty NBC drama.
—Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 24 Oct. 2023
There is less goofing off in the workplace shows that have been among the most talked about programs since the rise of streaming.
—Emma Goldberg, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2023
Somebody had to conjure up reasons to make a show in which Zahn McClarnon, Gary Farmer and Wes Studi go fishing and just goof off for a full 30-minute episode.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Sep. 2023
From Hollywood to New York and everywhere in between, see what your favorite stars are up to
01
Finale Fun
Looking gorgeous in a red dress to match her nails, Heidi Klum goofs off while filming America's Got Talent in L.A. on Sept. 26.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 27 Sep. 2023
In a game that further showed Justin Herbert is an NFL star, the Vikings nevertheless had a chance to score a winning touchdown in the final half minute only to goof it up, leading to linebacker Kenneth Murray’s interception in the end zone that secured the Chargers’ 28-24 victory in Minneapolis.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2023
Coppola suggests that she was always treated as an outsider and that Elvis was an overgrown boy who often preferred to goof off with his buddies than spend time with her.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2023
See More
Noun
More gags and goofs, political insights, and interviews.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2023
Business Insider - Give up the goof: An industrial and organizational psychology professor finds that silly interview questions can actually turn off applicants.
—Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 31 July 2023
Worse, the masculine voice sounded distinctly British, the kind of goof that might raise eyebrows in some Irish homes.
—Bernhard Warner, BostonGlobe.com, 1 July 2023
In the carousel of photos, Braylon goofs towards the camera, holds up a massive fish, poses with his dad and shows off some of his birthday gifts.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 30 May 2023
With stardom just a compromise away, Ani DiFranco chides her fans, goofs on the media, and wishes major labels would get the bleep off her answering machine.
—Jonathan Van Meter, SPIN, 8 Apr. 2023
But Smiths is much more than an eccentric goof.
—Darren Franich, EW.com, 11 Aug. 2021
The 2012 book Math Goes to the Movies points out a few huge goofs, including the title sequence’s misrepresentation of pi’s decimal expansion.
—WIRED, 14 Mar. 2023
Another Joe Rogan goof.
—Ryan Faughnderstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2023
Verb
In another slide, the duo — who recently made Variety’s list of the 40 Most Powerful Women on Reality TV in 2023 — goofed off behind their microphones at SiriusXM studios.
—Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
This is true, too: The Chargers have still managed to goof it up.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Nov. 2023
In fact, as viewers can tell from PEOPLE's exclusive behind-the-scenes featurette (which was filmed in Atlanta prior to the start of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike), the duo are almost certain to be goofing off between takes of the gritty NBC drama.
—Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 24 Oct. 2023
There is less goofing off in the workplace shows that have been among the most talked about programs since the rise of streaming.
—Emma Goldberg, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2023
Somebody had to conjure up reasons to make a show in which Zahn McClarnon, Gary Farmer and Wes Studi go fishing and just goof off for a full 30-minute episode.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Sep. 2023
From Hollywood to New York and everywhere in between, see what your favorite stars are up to
01
Finale Fun
Looking gorgeous in a red dress to match her nails, Heidi Klum goofs off while filming America's Got Talent in L.A. on Sept. 26.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 27 Sep. 2023
In a game that further showed Justin Herbert is an NFL star, the Vikings nevertheless had a chance to score a winning touchdown in the final half minute only to goof it up, leading to linebacker Kenneth Murray’s interception in the end zone that secured the Chargers’ 28-24 victory in Minneapolis.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2023
Coppola suggests that she was always treated as an outsider and that Elvis was an overgrown boy who often preferred to goof off with his buddies than spend time with her.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'goof.' 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
Noun
probably alteration of English dialect goff simpleton
First Known Use
Noun
1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1932, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing goof
Dictionary Entries Near goof
Cite this Entry
“Goof.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goof. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
goof
1 of 2 noun1
: a silly or stupid person
2
goof
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to spend time foolishly
goofing off instead of working
b
: to engage in a playful activity
goofing around after school
3
: to make a mess of : bungle
goofed up the assignment
Etymology
Noun
probably an altered form of dialect word goff "simpleton"
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