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
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
Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 27 Mar. 2025
So far, these little goofs include, but are not limited to, momentarily laying off people who oversee the nuclear-weapons stockpile and cancelling Ebola-prevention measures.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2025
In the video, Jim goes through the motions of catching the city bus to ride to school — uniform and all — before goofing off in class with his friends and later playing Xbox in his bedroom, all while ruminating on an absent father.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for goof
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Noun
Jack Haven as Shaggy Taylor Hill/Getty Images Shaggy is really the heart of Mystery, Inc., and in order to pull off his specific mix of loveable goof and chill stoner, look no further than Haven.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 27 Mar. 2025
So far, these little goofs include, but are not limited to, momentarily laying off people who oversee the nuclear-weapons stockpile and cancelling Ebola-prevention measures.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
This is an excellent day to relax and goof off at home.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2025
In the video, Jim goes through the motions of catching the city bus to ride to school — uniform and all — before goofing off in class with his friends and later playing Xbox in his bedroom, all while ruminating on an absent father.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for goof
Cite this Entry
“Goof.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goof. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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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