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.
Synonyms
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
Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 26 Nov. 2024
This is the season for California lawmakers to travel across the globe, some to lush beachside resorts with schmoozing lobbyists, at no cost of their own.
—Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2024
Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2024
We are even spared the immediate aftermath: the coffin being lowered into the earth, the child alone in a corner while well wishers three heads taller schmooze and nosh, the widower donating sweaters to Goodwill.
—Eliza Berman, TIME, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for schmooze 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Goofball Raiders boss Mark Davis has already been seen schmoozing with the Buffs’ QB1.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 26 Nov. 2024
This is the season for California lawmakers to travel across the globe, some to lush beachside resorts with schmoozing lobbyists, at no cost of their own.
—Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2024
Noun
The fact is that fair Venus is in your sign making this a wonderful day to schmooze with others.
—Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2024
We are even spared the immediate aftermath: the coffin being lowered into the earth, the child alone in a corner while well wishers three heads taller schmooze and nosh, the widower donating sweaters to Goodwill.
—Eliza Berman, TIME, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for schmooze
Articles Related to schmooze
Dictionary Entries Near schmooze
Cite this Entry
“Schmooze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schmooze. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share