variants
or shmooze
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
: to engage in schmoozing with
she schmoozed her professors
1
: a gathering or time devoted to schmoozing
2
: casual talk that is often gossipy or ingratiating
Did you know?
Schmooze (also spelled shmooze) comes from Yiddish schmues, meaning "talk," which itself is from Hebrew shěmu’ōth, "news" or "rumor." Although originally used to indicate simply talking in an informal and warm manner, the word now commonly suggests discussion for the purposes of gaining something.
Examples of schmooze in a Sentence
Verb
People will have time to schmooze during the cocktail hour.
spent every spare minute of the conference schmoozing with the industry's power players
Noun
had to master the art of the schmooze if she wanted to get ahead in the business
Recent Examples on the Web
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 6 May 2025
All branches of the Academy have been active in recent weeks, meeting about new membership matters, and Kennedy has used the opportunity to schmooze on Iger’s behalf.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 June 2025
Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 18 June 2025
Several hundred were on the scene to sip, snack, shake hands, schmooze and take tours of The A List’s showroom.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for schmooze
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Verb
Enjoy schmoozing with others, plus socializing with friends and romantic partners.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 6 May 2025
All branches of the Academy have been active in recent weeks, meeting about new membership matters, and Kennedy has used the opportunity to schmooze on Iger’s behalf.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 June 2025
Noun
Wilson, currently seen on the Apple TV+ golf comedy Stick, stopped by SiriusXM's TODAY Show Radio for a schmooze with Dylan Dreyer, and talked a bit about his undergrad years.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 18 June 2025
Several hundred were on the scene to sip, snack, shake hands, schmooze and take tours of The A List’s showroom.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for schmooze
Cite this Entry
“Schmooze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schmooze. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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