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

My cousin, for example, lives with four other twenty-somethings in a messy, buzzing apartment that’s not so different from college. —Ivy Becker, StyleCaster, 13 Dec. 2024

The globe’s biggest Afropop stars throw their own shows back home or headline massive festivals, events of all kinds abound, beaches get packed out with buzzing groups of friends and family, and for many, schools close, work slows, and the joyful gatherings seem never ending. —Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2024

Noun

With audiences off to see the Wizard, and Elphaba and Glinda, radio is capitalizing on the buzz of Wicked by playing two of the franchise’s signature songs. —Gary Trust, Billboard, 18 Dec. 2024

Jaime Foxx's return to the comedy circuit is generating plenty of buzz. —Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 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