buzz

1 of 2

verb

buzzed; buzzing; buzzes

intransitive verb

1
: to make a low continuous humming sound like that of a bee
2
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 bottleW. M. Thackeray

buzz

2 of 2

noun

1
: a persistent vibratory sound
2
a
: a confused murmur
b
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 buzzTV 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

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
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
While Altadena, which has a large Latino population, was burning, social media started buzzing that Immigration and Customs Enforcement was nearby conducting a raid, Salas said. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025 Only male cicadas sing or make that buzzing noise they’re known for. Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
And as much of a novelty as other platforms might be — including tier-two Chinese alternatives, that buzz will quickly fade. Zak Doffman, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025 After years of electric vehicles dominating the overall new car buzz (if not sales), hybrids made a strong, emphatic comeback in 2024. New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for buzz 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of buzz was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near buzz

Cite this Entry

“Buzz.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buzz. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

buzz

1 of 2 verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on buzz

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