scuff

1 of 2

verb

ˈskəf 

scuffed; scuffing; scuffs

intransitive verb

1

a

: to walk without lifting the feet : shuffle

b

: to poke or shuffle a foot in exploration or embarrassment

2

: to become scratched, chipped, or roughened by wear

a countertop that won't scuff

transitive verb

1

: cuff entry 3

2

a

: to scrape (the feet) along a surface while walking or back and forth while standing

b

: to poke at with the toe

3

: to scratch, gouge, or wear away the surface of

scuffed my shoes

scuff

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a noise of or as if of scuffing

b

: the act or an instance of scuffing

c

: a mark or injury caused by scuffing

2

: a flat-soled slipper without quarter or heel strap compare mule

Synonyms

Verb

• scratch
• scrape

Examples of scuff in a Sentence

Verb

She scuffed down the hall towards her room.

scuffed up her shoes by rubbing her feet under the rung of the chair

Noun

She slid into her scuffs and headed into the kitchen.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Even his recent movies have seemed a little embarrassed by the guy, scuffing him up with cynicism. —Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025

But nobody is scuffing the dining table with their stilettos; no one is stargazing out in the garden. —Kitty Ruskin, Time, 26 June 2025

Noun

Use these steps to not only clean your suitcase but also remove scuffs and scratches. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2025

Nail polish remover: Use a small amount of nail polish remover on a cotton ball to erase scuffs. —Maryal Miller Carter, USA Today, 7 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

1768, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for scuff

• buff
• cuff
• duff
• fluff
• gruff
• hough
• huff
• luff
• muff
• puff
• rough
• ruff

Kids Definition

scuff

1 of 2 verb

ˈskəf 

1

: to scrape the feet in walking : shuffle

2

: to become rough or scratched through wear

scuff

2 of 2 noun

: a noise or act of scuffing