buff 1 of 2

noun

ˈbəf How to pronounce buff (audio)
Definition of buffnext
1
as in lover
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something he's such a film buff that he owns over 3,000 movies

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2
as in nude
the state of having no clothes on one's body protected by a fully enclosed backyard, the couple would frequently sunbathe in the buff

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buff

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction she learned to buff semiprecious stones in order to make her own jewelry

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2
as in to polish
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure the janitor buffed the lobby floor until it shone

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of buff
Noun
Austria’s capital has plenty to keep culture buffs happy including Schönbrunn Palace, once the summer residence of the Habsburgs, the Vienna State Opera and numerous art museums like the Leopold, the Albertina and the Belvedere Palace which houses Gustav Klimt’s popular painting, The Kiss. — Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025 Gibbons is a beard-history buff and a baseball fan. — Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
Various Metals Fine to medium-fine-grade steel wool can buff, polish, and remove stains from certain metals like stainless steel, aluminum, chrome, copper, brass, and zinc. — Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2025 Declaring its intent to buff older characters is quite a break with tradition. — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for buff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buff
  1. lover
  2. nude
  3. rub
  4. polish
  5. fan
  6. sand
  7. smooth
  8. sucker
Noun
  • Despite his hardened outlook on Heis, Rema remains a lover at heart.
    — Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The film premieres March 15 at the Roxy Cinema in New York, and stars Dario Yazbek Bernal and Jack Irv as two lovers whose whirlwind romance sends them down a rabbit hole of drugs and depravity in Manhattan’s underworld.
    — Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of lover
Noun
  • After going back and forth on the nuances of milky versus nude, Glamour editors decided to launch a formal investigation.
    — Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The way Little portrays male nudes against architecture in classical poses brings to mind sculptures of Ancient Greek Gods and the idealised male bodies depicted in ancient Greek and Roman sculpture.
    — Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of nude
Verb
  • Thinking fast, the kid rubs his fists in broken glass, instantly upgrading his wimpy, untrained knuckles into deadly weapons.
    — Peter Debruge, Variety, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The seams don't rub, even with a heavy pack on, and the cut is roomy without being too baggy.
    — Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of rub
Verb
  • Loungewear sets are a common airport outfit, but Markle’s striped button-down shirt and matching flared pants looked comfortable, but also polished enough to wear to work or dinner.
    — Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Plus, like all Essie polishes, the creamy formula is vegan, salon-quality, and priced affordably.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of polish
Noun
  • The actor is a longtime fan of the French soccer team.
    — Hannah Malach, WWD, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Yet for the legions of O’Neill fans eagerly waiting for the journalist to expand on the theories introduced in his book, the film probably won’t be satisfying.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of fan
Verb
  • Most stars sand down the rough edges for big-paycheck roles like that.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The lyrics on this album take a few spins to absorb, in part because Van Etten doesn’t sand down the sharp corners of her subjects.
    — Frank DiGiacomo, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2025
Definition of sand
Verb
  • Diversification can smooth the ride and mitigate the impact on investors when a high-flyer like Tesla hits turbulence.
    — Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
  • The result is an indulgent, cooling formula that strengthens your skin barrier, smooths fine lines, and boosts your natural glow.
    — Deanna Pai, Allure, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of smooth
Noun
  • Clip away suckers or small sprouts that are growing from the base of the tree.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Extended deterrence was a sham, and the people who relied on it were suckers.
    — Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of sucker

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Cite this Entry

“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buff. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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