schmooze

verb

ˈshmüz 

variants or shmooze

schmoozed or shmoozed; schmoozing or shmoozing

intransitive verb

: to converse informally : chat

also : to chat in a friendly and persuasive manner especially so as to gain favor, business, or connections

transitive verb

: to engage in schmoozing with

she schmoozed her professors

schmoozer

ˈshmü-zər 

noun

Did you know?

Schmooze (also spelled shmooze) schlepped into English from the Yiddish schmues, meaning "talk," which itself is from the Hebrew shěmu’ōth, meaning "news" or "rumor." Although originally used to indicate simply talking in an informal and warm manner, the word now commonly suggests conversation for the purpose of gaining favor, business, or connections. Schmooze is one of a number of English schm- words originating from Yiddish; other classics include schmaltz (referring to rendered animal fat or excessively sentimental music or art), schmuck (a slang word for "jerk"), schmutz ("a filthy or soiling substance"), and schmear ("a layer of cream cheese").

Synonyms of schmooze

• chat
• talk
• converse

Examples of schmooze in a Sentence

People will have time to schmooze during the cocktail hour.

spent every spare minute of the conference schmoozing with the industry's power players

Recent Examples on the Web

The Maloofs wanted a coach who would go to the mall to schmooze with season ticket holders. —Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026

This is an excellent day to schmooze! —Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 30 May 2026

The horseshoe, with all its attendant implications of lobbyists schmoozing legislators, has more than had its day. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2026

The onetime Bachelorette villain turned podcaster rocked up to Lawn Club in a perfect garden-party-appropriate light blazer and happily schmoozed with anyone who passed him at the bar. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish shmuesn, from schmues talk, from Hebrew shĕmu'ōth news, rumor

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for schmooze

• blues
• boos
• booze
• brews
• bruise
• chews
• choose
• chuse
• clews
• clues
• coups
• crews

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Kids Definition

schmooze

verb

variants or shmooze

ˈshmüz

schmoozed or shmoozed; schmoozing or shmoozing

: to converse informally : chat

also : to chat in a friendly and persuasive manner especially so as to gain favor, business, or connections

schmoozer

ˈshmü-zər

noun

Etymology

Yiddish shmuesn "to chat," from Hebrew shĕmu'ōth "news, rumor"