1
: a garment (such as a uniform) made of buff leather
2
: the state of being nude
sunbathing in the buff
3
a
: a moderate orange yellow
b
: a light to moderate yellow
4
: a device having a soft absorbent surface (as of cloth) by which polishing material is applied
5
[earlier buff an enthusiast about going to fires; perhaps from the buff overcoats worn by volunteer firefighters in New York City about 1820]
: fan, enthusiast
1
: of the color buff
2
or buffed
: having a physique enhanced by bodybuilding exercises
buffed; buffing; buffs
2
: to give a velvety surface to (leather)
Synonyms
Examples of buff in a Sentence
Noun
he's such a film buff that he owns over 3,000 movies
protected by a fully enclosed backyard, the couple would frequently sunbathe in the buff
Adjective
He's at the gym every day trying to get buff.
the buff body of an athlete
Verb
The floors are waxed and buffed every year.
She is going to the salon to get her nails buffed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mathew Scott, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 June 2024
Some fitness buffs might scoff and say I, and others like me, lack discipline or mental fortitude and that these features are a crutch.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 13 June 2024
Callie Holtermann, New York Times, 19 May 2024
Gyllenhaal will step into the role of UFC fighter turned rough-and-rowdy bouncer James Dalton, with his poster revealing a super buff Jake — with a full left arm sleeve of ink — staring into the camera, his face also showing signs of combat.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 14 Feb. 2024
Hannah Coates, Glamour, 14 June 2024
Enriched with hibiscus enzymes and lactic acid, the treatment instantly buffs dry skin, prepping the lips for hydration (locked-in by Brazilian açaí and African mongongo butters).
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for buff 
Noun
For international film buffs, the Shanghai festival is now best viewed as an opportunity to take stock of current trends in Chinese filmmaking — and on that front, the event’s 2024 lineup is rich with potential.
—Mathew Scott, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 June 2024
Some fitness buffs might scoff and say I, and others like me, lack discipline or mental fortitude and that these features are a crutch.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 13 June 2024
Adjective
Young shoppers are taking cues from influencers like Jeremy Fragrance, a buff German man with 8.8 million followers on the platform.
—Callie Holtermann, New York Times, 19 May 2024
Gyllenhaal will step into the role of UFC fighter turned rough-and-rowdy bouncer James Dalton, with his poster revealing a super buff Jake — with a full left arm sleeve of ink — staring into the camera, his face also showing signs of combat.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 14 Feb. 2024
Verb
The ponytail was the perfect partner for a bare (and buffed) décolletage and choker necklace.
—Hannah Coates, Glamour, 14 June 2024
Enriched with hibiscus enzymes and lactic acid, the treatment instantly buffs dry skin, prepping the lips for hydration (locked-in by Brazilian açaí and African mongongo butters).
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for buff
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'buff.' 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 buff
Cite this Entry
“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buff. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
buff
1 of 3 noun1
: an orange yellow
2
: a device with a soft absorbent surface (as of cloth) for applying polishing material
3
: fan entry 3, enthusiast
a tennis buff
buff
2 of 3 adjective
: of the color buff
buff
3 of 3 verb
: to polish with or as if with a buff
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