goof (around)

verb

Definition of goof (around)next
as in to play
to spend time in aimless activity we've been goofing around long enough; it's time to get some real work done

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for goof (around)
  1. play
  2. fool around
  3. hang about
  4. mess around
Verb
  • Business travelers love this hotel for its balance of work and play, along with its central location.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Barcelona Lamine Yamal may have been light on the score sheet during the World Cup, but the teenage phenom played his role to perfection during Spain’s tournament-winning run.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of play
Verb
  • As Marshall and Alice consider one another and then start to fool around, the sequence feels organic and dangerous without being forced.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Another horny couple on vacation couldn’t wait until their flight landed to fool around and insisted on doing so in the plane's cabin.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Definition of fool around
Verb
  • President James Garfield’s assassin, Charles Guiteau, died by hanging about five months after he was convicted of murder.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 17 June 2026
  • On Monday, May 18, a 7%-illuminated crescent will hang about two degrees from Venus, with Jupiter about 20 degrees above.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 15 May 2026
Definition of hang about
Verb
  • There will be no more messing around with draggy eye pencils or the emperor’s new eye shadows.
    — Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026
  • But then Jeanty had to mess around and heal and whatnot, which was really quite rude.
    — Gary Davenport, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of mess around
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

goof
goof (around)
goofed (around)
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Cite this Entry

“Goof (around).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goof%20%28around%29. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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