1
: an ostinato phrase (as in jazz) typically supporting a solo improvisation
also
: a piece based on such a phrase
2
: a rapid energetic often improvised verbal outpouring
especially
: one that is part of a comic performance
3
: a succinct usually witty comment
4
: a distinct variation : take
a disturbing … riff on the Cinderella story—
Daria Donnelly
Daria Donnelly
riffed; riffing; riffs
: to perform, deliver, or make use of a riff
Examples of riff in a Sentence
Noun
He stole that riff from another song.
a mock news program with humorous riffs on current events
Recent Examples on the Web
Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Christoph Waltz, Renée Zellweger, and Logan Lerman step in as a trio of billionaires, meant to be riffs on the modern mogul.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
John Lopez, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
Alchemist gives Gibbs his space to riff, but knows when to interject and add on to the conversation.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riff
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Noun
Casillas developed a riff on cochinita pibil for Puesto, along with a celebratory Pistachio Tres Leches cake, and shared his recipes and techniques here.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Christoph Waltz, Renée Zellweger, and Logan Lerman step in as a trio of billionaires, meant to be riffs on the modern mogul.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
The latter riffs mythopoetically on the region’s aerospace industry, and the former features an anthropology of our freeways any native Angeleno could get behind.
—John Lopez, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
Alchemist gives Gibbs his space to riff, but knows when to interject and add on to the conversation.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riff
Cite this Entry
“Riff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riff. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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