scuff

1 of 2

verb

ˈskəf 

scuffed; scuffing; scuffs

intransitive verb

1

a

: 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

2

a

: 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

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: 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

Verb

• abrade
• graze
• scrape
• scratch

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

Sincerely, do not expect these to stay looking pristine for long — not since the weird early days of the iPod nano has an Apple product gotten scuffed this easily. —Brandon Widder, The Verge, 25 July 2024

Hardside suitcases are more prone to denting or scuffing, but softside fabric can be harder to clean. —Jackie Cucco, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2024

Noun

Even with regular use, my Supersonic is still in pretty good condition and only has some minor scuffs that are purely cosmetic. —Karina Hoshikawa, refinery29.com, 12 Aug. 2024

Suffice to say, my back and arm had matching scuffs. —Elaina Verhoff, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

1768, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

scuff

1 of 2 verb

ˈskəf 

1

: to scrape the feet in walking : shuffle

2

: to become rough or scratched through wear

scuff

2 of 2 noun

: a noise or act of scuffing