Illustration of scarf
- 4scarf 2
plural scarves
ˈskärvz 
or scarfs
or scarfs
1
: a broad band of cloth worn about the shoulders, around the neck, or over the head
2
3
a
: a military or official sash usually indicative of rank
b
archaic
: tippet sense 3
scarfed; scarfing; scarfs
1
: to wrap, cover, or adorn with or as if with a scarf
2
: to wrap or throw on (a scarf or mantle) loosely
scarfed; scarfing; scarfs
1
: scoff entry 3 sense 1
scarfed down my sandwich
2
: snap sense transitive 2
scarfed up the best seats
plural scarfs
1
: either of the chamfered or cutaway ends that fit together to form a scarf joint
2
: an in-line joint made by chamfering, halving, or notching two pieces to correspond and lapping them
variants
or less commonly scarph
scarfed also scarphed; scarfing also scarphing; scarfs also scarphs
Synonyms
Examples of scarf in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the college students scarfed the entire contents of the care package in one sitting
Recent Examples on the Web
Aryn Kyle, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
The fan scarfing a hot dog while drinking a beer in the bleachers is making way for the one watching the game in an intimate suite, a V.I.P. club or a casual meeting spot with all-inclusive food offerings and bar stools overlooking the field.
—Kevin Draper Doug Mills, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
As soon as it was laid on the ground, my boy lunged at it with a markedly un-royal passion and scarfed it all down within a matter of minutes.
—Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 31 Dec. 2023
The first one brought the stars to earth with invasive photos of them scarfing fast food.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
With astonishing speed, the pack scarfs it down, while warthogs, vultures, and jackals wait in the periphery for the scraps.
—Scott Bay, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2023
Upon receiving word from Cooper the time was now, Mack scarfed his birthday pancakes, drove to the gym and worked out with them.
—Michael Gehlken, Dallas News, 8 Aug. 2023
There’s something about standing in line with at least a dozen other Saz’s stans eager to scarf one down that makes the combination of sticks, curds and fries taste so much better, so much more comforting, so sublimely like summer in Milwaukee.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2023
Leaning into Neuty’s growing fame, Myra created a TikTok account in December and posted videos of Neuty swimming in the pool, sporting a Mardi Gras hat, and scarfing a bedtime snack of apples, kiwis, cucumbers, corn on the cob and Cookie Crisp cereal.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2023
Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 9 May 2024
Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images The couple tagged each other in the Instagram caption as Hailey, dressed in a long white lace dress with a veil-like scarf wrapped around her head, cradled her baby bump.
—Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 9 May 2024
At the first semifinal’s opening act, one performer managed to sneak in a political statement, singing with a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf tied around his wrist.
—Jill Lawless, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 May 2024
With Jenny's camel coat, striped scarf, and a knitted beanie from the actress' personal collection that instantly became the fashion must-have of the moment, MacGraw helped define 1970s trends and spurred legions of women to copy her boho-meets-preppy look.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 7 May 2024
If your mom can’t ever seem to get warm, this shawl (or scarf or poncho), is a four-in-one solution that will be cherished for years to come.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 7 May 2024
City’s Toronto Supporters Club started with the bar and a couple of sky blue scarves and a few committed fans who somehow found each other.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 3 May 2024
The stretchy mesh fabric is lightweight and breathable, and there’s an ample amount of it to style as a wrap skirt or a scarf.
—Barbara Bellesi Zito, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2024
While much of the song focuses on these little flashes of memory (the scarf, the twin sized-bed, the refrigerator light), the bridge takes stock of the damage that’s been inflicted in the aftermath.
—Samantha Cooney, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
Verb
The sky was growing dark with clouds, but people were still eating ice cream and standing in clusters on the lawn, the little kids running around in their clip-on ties and their shiny shoes while the dogs waddled after them, scarfing the crumbs that fell from their paper plates.
—Aryn Kyle, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
The fan scarfing a hot dog while drinking a beer in the bleachers is making way for the one watching the game in an intimate suite, a V.I.P. club or a casual meeting spot with all-inclusive food offerings and bar stools overlooking the field.
—Kevin Draper Doug Mills, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
As soon as it was laid on the ground, my boy lunged at it with a markedly un-royal passion and scarfed it all down within a matter of minutes.
—Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 31 Dec. 2023
The first one brought the stars to earth with invasive photos of them scarfing fast food.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
With astonishing speed, the pack scarfs it down, while warthogs, vultures, and jackals wait in the periphery for the scraps.
—Scott Bay, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2023
Upon receiving word from Cooper the time was now, Mack scarfed his birthday pancakes, drove to the gym and worked out with them.
—Michael Gehlken, Dallas News, 8 Aug. 2023
There’s something about standing in line with at least a dozen other Saz’s stans eager to scarf one down that makes the combination of sticks, curds and fries taste so much better, so much more comforting, so sublimely like summer in Milwaukee.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2023
Leaning into Neuty’s growing fame, Myra created a TikTok account in December and posted videos of Neuty swimming in the pool, sporting a Mardi Gras hat, and scarfing a bedtime snack of apples, kiwis, cucumbers, corn on the cob and Cookie Crisp cereal.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2023
Noun
At the same conference, students declined to give their names and wore scarves and masks in front of news cameras in order to avoid being identified by university personnel.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 9 May 2024
Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images The couple tagged each other in the Instagram caption as Hailey, dressed in a long white lace dress with a veil-like scarf wrapped around her head, cradled her baby bump.
—Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 9 May 2024
At the first semifinal’s opening act, one performer managed to sneak in a political statement, singing with a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf tied around his wrist.
—Jill Lawless, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 May 2024
With Jenny's camel coat, striped scarf, and a knitted beanie from the actress' personal collection that instantly became the fashion must-have of the moment, MacGraw helped define 1970s trends and spurred legions of women to copy her boho-meets-preppy look.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 7 May 2024
If your mom can’t ever seem to get warm, this shawl (or scarf or poncho), is a four-in-one solution that will be cherished for years to come.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 7 May 2024
City’s Toronto Supporters Club started with the bar and a couple of sky blue scarves and a few committed fans who somehow found each other.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 3 May 2024
The stretchy mesh fabric is lightweight and breathable, and there’s an ample amount of it to style as a wrap skirt or a scarf.
—Barbara Bellesi Zito, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2024
While much of the song focuses on these little flashes of memory (the scarf, the twin sized-bed, the refrigerator light), the bridge takes stock of the damage that’s been inflicted in the aftermath.
—Samantha Cooney, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scarf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near scarf
Cite this Entry
“Scarf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarf. Accessed 18 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scarf
1 of 2 noun
plural scarves
ˈskärvz
or scarfs
1
: a broad band of cloth worn about the shoulders, around the neck, over the head, or about the waist
2
scarf
2 of 2 verb
: scoff entry 3 sense 1
scarfed down my sandwich
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