goof

\ ˈgüf

How to pronounce goof (audio)

\

Definition of goof

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a silly or stupid person

goof

goofed; goofing; goofs

Definition of goof (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : to spend time idly or foolishly —usually used with offgoofing off instead of working

b : to engage in playful activity —usually used with aroundgoofing around after school

2 : to make a usually foolish or careless mistake : blunder —often used with up

transitive verb

: to make a mess of : bungle —usually used with upgoofed up the assignment

goof on

slang

: to make fun of : kid, put on you're goofing on me, right?

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about goof

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of goof in a Sentence

Noun Don't be such a goof. I'll admit it's my goof. I made a major goof. Verb It was clear that someone had goofed.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Join former Saturday Night Live cast member and homegrown Cincinnati native Luke Null for a night of musical comedy, stories and goofs. — Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati.com, "Things to do this week in Cincinnati: Oct. 21-27," 21 Oct. 2019 There was Cody, a tail-wagging goof of an English chocolate lab in for a check-up. — Author: Rita Giordano, Anchorage Daily News, "Veterinarians — beset by stress, death and debt — are dying by suicide at high rates," 14 Oct. 2019 In our experience, this is a relatively simple but not totally goof-proof transaction. — Jennifer Barger, Washington Post, "Picture frames: How to find the best companies and the best deals," 3 Sep. 2019 As the ringleader behind the male strippers, Brett McMahon is a likable enough goof-off. — Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, "‘The Full Monty’: Fun can be enough | Review," 5 Aug. 2019 Some know him as one of the world's premiere DJs and producers, while others seem him as a goof with no shirt and long hair who throws cakes. — Kat Bein, Billboard, "5 Things We Learned While Reading Steve Aoki's Memoir 'Blue: The Color of Noise'," 11 Sep. 2019 In the end, Güero — half-labrador, half-boxer, full-bodied goof — would pay for that folly. — Elaine Ayala, ExpressNews.com, "Bidding adieu to a faithful, four-legged companion," 10 Sep. 2019 Now, the goof-punks with cute videos are having the last laugh. — Los Angeles Times, "Newsletter: A victory for Trump’s asylum ban," 12 Sep. 2019 Then the brothers goof around in the pool for a bit before settling on a challenge: rescuing a stuffed duck from inside the partially submerged shed as fast as possible. — Abby Ohlheiser, Washington Post, "The Dobre brothers are trying to be the next Mister Rogers — if Mister Rogers rapped about being ‘lit’," 25 July 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb People showing off, goofing off, getting off flights. — Leslie Jamison, The Atlantic, "The Lovely Solitude of Standing in a Crowd," 6 Nov. 2019 At least half the slides featured the two of them smiling and goofing off. — Jennifer Miller, New York Times, "Maybe the Best Way to Find Love Is … Not on an App?," 6 Sep. 2019 Users film videos of themselves and friends goofing off or mugging for the camera. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "It’s time to end “trending” on Twitter," 13 Aug. 2019 Swimming in the area where Bloodsworth was goofing off had been prohibited due to its close proximity to the pier, the officials said. — Fox News, "Florida dad threw son, 5, into ocean to ‘teach him to swim’: cops," 18 July 2019 The romantic video features Swift and her fictional lover, played by backup dancer and musician Christian Owens, dancing and goofing off in a dollhouse within a snowglobe. — Lauren Huff, EW.com, "Taylor Swift's 'Lover' music video is here, and it's so romantic," 22 Aug. 2019 The young men and some of their buddies had gone to Harriet Island to goof around and shoot off a handgun. — Sarah Horner, Twin Cities, "St. Paul man sentenced to 180 days in jail for accidentally shooting cousin," 11 Sep. 2019 The series of photos, shared to Holland’s Instagram, show the pair goofing off and then, later, posing with each other’s Marvel action figures. — Nick Romano, EW.com, "Tom Holland reunites with Robert Downey Jr. in pics as Spider-Man fate in flux," 23 Aug. 2019 Besides getting into shenanigans with Cole, Trinity goofs off with KJ on set. — Stacey Grant, Seventeen, "Riverdale's Jellybean Talks On Set Pranks with Cole Sprouse and Her Memories of Luke Perry," 18 July 2019

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about goof

Dictionary Entries near goof

Goody Two-shoes

Statistics for goof

Last Updated

13 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Goof.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goofed. Accessed 22 November 2019.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for goof

goof

noun

English Language Learners Definition of goof

(Entry 1 of 2)

chiefly US, informal

: a silly or stupid person

: a careless or stupid mistake

goof

verb

English Language Learners Definition of goof (Entry 2 of 2)

chiefly US, informal : to make a careless or stupid mistake : to make a goof

See the full definition for goof in the English Language Learners Dictionary

goof

\ ˈgüf

\

Kids Definition of goof

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a stupid or silly person

2 : blunder entry 2

goof

goofed; goofing

Kids Definition of goof (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to spend time foolishly He goofed off instead of studying.

2 : to spend time doing silly or playful things They spend the weekend goofing around.

3 : to make a blunder

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

heterodox

not agreeing with established beliefs

Test Your Vocabulary

Name that Food Quiz

Name these cookies!

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.