buzz

1 of 2

verb

ˈbəz 

buzzed; buzzing; buzzes

intransitive verb

1

: to make a low continuous humming sound like that of a bee

2

a

: murmur, whisper

b

: to be filled with a confused murmur

the room buzzed with excitement

3

: to make a signal with a buzzer

4

: to go quickly : hurry

buzzed around town in a sports car

also : scram

—usually used with off

5

: to feel high especially from a drug

transitive verb

1

: to utter covertly by or as if by whispering

2

: to cause to buzz

3

: to fly fast and close to

planes buzz the crowd

4

: to summon or signal with a buzzer

also : to let in through an electronically controlled entrance

—used with in or through

buzzed him in

5

dialectal, England : to drink to the last drop

get some more port whilst I buzz this bottle

—W. M. Thackeray

buzz

2 of 2

noun

1

: a persistent vibratory sound

2

a

: a confused murmur

b

: rumor, gossip

c

: a flurry of activity

d

: fad, craze

e

: speculative or excited talk or attention relating especially to a new or forthcoming product or event

one of the few new shows that's getting good buzz

—TV Guide

also : an instance of such talk or attention

their first CD created a huge buzz

3

: a signal conveyed by buzzer

specifically : a telephone call

4

slang : high sense 4

Synonyms

Verb

• abound
• brim
• bristle
• bulge
• burst
• bustle
• crawl
• hum
• overflow
• pullulate
• swarm
• teem

Noun

• call
• ring

Examples of buzz in a Sentence

Verb

Flies were buzzing around the picnic tables.

The hall buzzed with excitement as the audience waited for the show to start.

My mind is buzzing with ideas.

The nurse buzzed the doctor who was on duty.

She buzzed her secretary to say she was going out for lunch.

Ring the bell when you arrive and someone will buzz you into the building.

Let me buzz you out.

Noun

We heard the buzz of the bees as we walked through the garden.

When the machine is turned on, it makes a quiet buzz.

There was a buzz of voices in the hall as the audience waited for the show to start.

What's the latest buzz about their marriage?

The buzz is that she turned down the job because the pay was too low.

There's been quite a buzz about the new movie.

The team's new players are creating a buzz among baseball fans.

There's been a lot of buzz about the new movie.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Nearby, the Linen Quarter and Cathedral Quarter are buzzing with cafes, street art, and pubs, blending the old and new, and British and Irish culture, with surprising ease. —David Nikel, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025

Meanwhile, Goma’s vibrant nightlife, which until recently buzzed with dance and pool halls, has all but disappeared. —Sophie Neiman, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Apr. 2025

Noun

Whether you’re drawn to the story of the Titanic, intrigued by the legacy of The Troubles, or simply want to soak up the buzz of a city rapidly reinventing itself, Belfast delivers one of the most thought-provoking port days in the British Isles. —David Nikel, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025

The brand has earned a ton of buzz in the past few years for producing clothes, bags, and other accessories with streamlined looks that are easy to style. —Clint Davis, People.com, 2 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bussen, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing buzz

• buzz bomb
• buzz cut
• buzz off
• buzz saw
• give someone a buzz
• run/walk into a buzz saw

Rhymes for buzz

• does
• fuzz
• mrnas
• twas
• undoes

Kids Definition

buzz

1 of 2 verb

ˈbəz 

1

: to make a low continuous humming sound like that of a bee

2

: to be filled with a low hum or murmur

the room buzzed with excitement

3

: to send for or signal by means of a buzzer

4

: to fly an airplane low over

buzz

2 of 2 noun

1

: a sound of buzzing

2

a

: a signal given by a buzzer

b

: a telephone call