scuff

verb

Save Word

\ ˈskəf

scuffed; scuffing; scuffs

Definition of scuff

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : to walk without lifting the feet : shuffle

b : to poke or shuffle a foot in exploration or embarrassment

2 : to become scratched, chipped, or roughened by wear a countertop that won't scuff

transitive verb

1 : cuff entry 3

2a : to scrape (the feet) along a surface while walking or back and forth while standing

b : to poke at with the toe

3 : to scratch, gouge, or wear away the surface of scuffed my shoes

scuff

noun

Definition of scuff (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : a noise of or as if of scuffing

b : the act or an instance of scuffing

c : a mark or injury caused by scuffing

2 : a flat-soled slipper without quarter or heel strap — compare mule

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About scuff

Examples of scuff in a Sentence

Verb She scuffed down the hall towards her room. scuffed up her shoes by rubbing her feet under the rung of the chair Noun She slid into her scuffs and headed into the kitchen.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb While effective in batting practice, the wheels on the machine scuff the surface of the ball from the very first pitch. — Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 12 Apr. 2022 The idea is to scuff it up, so paint sticks better, not to remove the old finish. — Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2022 The first yellow card had only been shown two minutes earlier for trying to scuff the penalty spot before Riyad Mahrez leveled. — Rob Harris, ajc, 1 Jan. 2022 Detectives in the affidavit noted the truck had scuff marks on a front tire and a lug nut cover was missing from one of the front wheels. — Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Dec. 2021 The first requires viewers to don paper booties—presumably so as not to scuff the floors. — Ann Landi, WSJ, 20 Dec. 2021 Daryl Dike waltzed past five defenders into the box only to scuff his ensuing shot, then sent a point-blank header screeching over the crossbar. — Julia Poe, orlandosentinel.com, 21 Oct. 2021 Conservative lawmakers in the House have been trying to scuff up Mr. Biden’s largely favorable image by depicting the country as being in the throes of overlapping crises around crime, border security and gas prices. — New York Times, 23 June 2021 When dry, lightly sand to scuff up the surface and help the paint grip. — Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The shoe has zero seams: Arc’teryx laminated the materials together to create a supertough one-piece upper that showed nary a scuff even after six months of frequent use. — Jakob Schiller, Outside Online, 14 May 2015 Our favorites are crafted from sleek aluminum or durable polycarbonate and feature double spinner wheels, interior compression boards, and scuff-resistant finishes. — Laura Lajiness Kaupke, Vogue, 12 Feb. 2022 The Aviator carry-on was created to last with a scuff-hiding textured finish. — Robin Raven, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2021 The scuff of a bare foot on sand, the rustle of a paper, a single word said in a whisper? — BostonGlobe.com, 16 Apr. 2021 Small enough to fit in a glove box, this kit includes a tire rasp and insertion tools, a tube scuff pad, six assorted patches, five 4-inch tire plugs and a small tube of rubber cement. — Hannah Drown, cleveland, 1 Dec. 2020 Without details about what finish the factory used, Frank Glowacki, the brand director at Rust-Oleum, recommended scuff-sanding the surface, then cleaning with a non-sudsing cleaner. — Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2020 First, use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe down your screen; remove dust, scuffs and any other surface-level fingerprints if possible. — Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, 13 Mar. 2020 For specific scuffs or marks, try taking a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to them with a little elbow grease. — Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Apr. 2020 See More

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