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
Brad Sanders, Pitchfork, 8 June 2026
Scary Movie, the latest entry in the beloved horror parody franchise, is overloaded with riffs, digs, plays, and puns on modern cinema.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2026
Leaving some of the keyboard parts to new touring player Loren Gold (who played with the Who) was clearly liberating for Lee, who still couldn’t resist playing some key synth riffs himself.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for riff
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Noun
When done well, those moments can be as important to the world of an album as the riffs and blast beats.
—Brad Sanders, Pitchfork, 8 June 2026
Scary Movie, the latest entry in the beloved horror parody franchise, is overloaded with riffs, digs, plays, and puns on modern cinema.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026
Verb
The theater is known for goofy, campy, original musical theater shows that riotously riff on fairy tales, folklore, TV shows and other familiar cultural tropes.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2026
Leaving some of the keyboard parts to new touring player Loren Gold (who played with the Who) was clearly liberating for Lee, who still couldn’t resist playing some key synth riffs himself.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for riff
Cite this Entry
“Riff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riff. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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