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

The crypto community is buzzing, with celebrations sweeping across forums and social media, hailing Trump’s win as a potential boon for the top cryptocurrency’s future. —Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 7 Nov. 2024

After today, our phones will quit buzzing nonstop with fundraising texts and get-out-the-vote calls. —Sam Allard, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

Noun

The Peaky Blinders movie continues to build buzz and here’s a first look of Saltburn star Barry Keoghan, who joins the cast for the feature. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024

The buzz Reminder: Williams is still a rookie, three weeks shy of his 23rd birthday and still only seven games into his NFL career. —Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 31 Oct. 2024

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

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