stuff

play

noun \ˈstəf\

Definition of stuff

1 : materials, supplies, or equipment used in various activities: such asa obsolete : military baggageb : personal property
2 : material to be manufactured, wrought, or used in construction clear half-inch pine stuff — Emily Holt
3 : a finished textile suitable for clothing; especially : wool or worsted material
4a : literary or artistic productionb : writing, discourse, talk, or ideas of little value : trash
5a : an unspecified material substance or aggregate of matter volcanic rock is curious stuffb : something (as a drug or food) consumed or introduced into the body by humansc : a matter to be considered the truth was heady stuff long-term policy stuffd : a group or scattering of miscellaneous objects or articles pick that stuff up off the floor; also : nonphysical unspecified material conservation and … all kinds of good stuff — Eric Korn
6a : fundamental material : substance the stuff of greatnessb : subject matter a teacher who knows her stuff
7 : special knowledge or capability showing their stuff
8a : spin imparted to a thrown or hit ball to make it curve or change courseb : the movement of a baseball pitch out of its apparent line of flight : the liveliness of a pitch greatest pitcher of my time … had tremendous stuff — Ted Williams
9 : dunk shot

stuffless

adjective

See stuff defined for English-language learners

See stuff defined for kids

Examples of stuff in a Sentence

She got out the cooking stuff to bake some cookies.
computers, word processors, and stuff like that
I need a place to store my stuff.
Pick that stuff up off the floor.

Origin and Etymology of stuff

Middle English, from Anglo-French estuffes goods, from estuffer to fill in (with rubble), furnish, equip, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German stopfōn to stop up, from Vulgar Latin *stuppare — more at stop

NEW!

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

stuff

verb

Definition of stuff

transitive verb
1a : to fill by packing things in : cram the boy stuffed his pockets with candyb : to fill to satiety : surfeit stuffed themselves with turkeyc : to prepare (meat or vegetables) by filling or lining with a stuffingd : to fill (something, such as a cushion) with a soft materiale : to fill out the skin of (an animal) for mounting
2a : to fill by intellectual effort stuffing their heads with factsb : to pack full of something immaterial a book stuffed with information
3 : to fill or block up (something, such as nasal passages)
4a : to cause to enter or fill : thrust stuffed a lot of clothing into a laundry bagb : to put (a ball, a puck, etc.) into a goal forcefully from close range
5 —used in the imperative to express contempt if they didn't like it, stuff 'em — Eric Clapton ; often used in the phrases stuff it and get stuffed
6 : to stop (a ballcarrier) abruptly in a football game stuffed the runner just short of a first down

See stuff defined for English-language learners

Examples of stuff in a Sentence

The boy stuffed his pockets with candy.
She stuffed the laundry bag full.

First Known Use of stuff

15th century

STUFF Defined for English Language Learners

stuff

play

noun

Definition of stuff for English Language Learners

: materials, supplies, or equipment
: a group or pile of things that are not specifically described
—used to speak in a general way about something that is talked about, written about, etc.

stuff

verb

Definition of stuff for English Language Learners

: to fill (something) so that there is no room for anything else
: to push (something) quickly and carelessly into a small space
: to put a seasoned mixture of food into (something that is being cooked)

STUFF Defined for Kids

stuff

play

noun \ˈstəf\

Definition of stuff for Students

1 : materials, supplies, or equipment that people need or use We helped move his stuff to the new apartment.
2 : writing, speech, sounds, actions, or ideas of little value … some of the boys act so immature, making monkey sounds and stuff. — Paula Danziger, Amber Brown
3 : something mentioned or understood but not named Wipe that stuff off your face.
4 : basic part of something : substance The floor is made of tough stuff. She shows the stuff of greatness.

stuff

play

verb

Definition of stuff for Students

stuffed

;

stuffing

1 : to force into something : thrust She stuffed the clothes into a drawer.
2 : to fill by packing or crowding things in : cram I stuffed the suitcases.
3 : overeat, gorge
4 : to fill with a stuffing stuff a turkey
5 : to block up : congest His nose is stuffed.