goofed; goofing; goofs
1
a
: to spend time idly or foolishly
—usually used with off
goofing off instead of working
b
: to engage in playful activity
—usually used with around
goofing around after school
2
: to make a usually foolish or careless mistake : blunder
—often used with up
: to make a mess of : bungle
—usually used with up
goofed up the assignment
Examples of goof in a Sentence
Noun
Don't be such a goof.
I made a major goof.
Verb
It was clear that someone had goofed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2025
The laidback energy resonated throughout the entire night, which featured minor goofs from Timothée Chalamet and Jessica Williams along with comical bits reuniting cast members from our favorite shows of the past.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025
Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
Coming off last week, the episode does feel a little like the winding-down period after a stern teacher tells a classroom to quiet down after goofing off, but, unfortunately for us, the season has to end somehow.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for goof
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Noun
The Residence is an entertainingly chaotic goof, a dramedy that immediately sets a frantic tone that’s only occasionally varied in the seven episodes (out of eight total) sent to critics.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2025
The laidback energy resonated throughout the entire night, which featured minor goofs from Timothée Chalamet and Jessica Williams along with comical bits reuniting cast members from our favorite shows of the past.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
In the video, Jim goes through the motions of catching the city bus to ride to school — uniform and all — before goofing off in class with his friends and later playing Xbox in his bedroom, all while ruminating on an absent father.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
Coming off last week, the episode does feel a little like the winding-down period after a stern teacher tells a classroom to quiet down after goofing off, but, unfortunately for us, the season has to end somehow.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for goof
Cite this Entry
“Goof.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goof. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
goof
1 of 2 noun1
: a silly or stupid person
2
goof
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to spend time foolishly
goofing off instead of working
b
: to engage in a playful activity
goofing around after school
3
: to make a mess of : bungle
goofed up the assignment
Etymology
Noun
probably an altered form of dialect word goff "simpleton"
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