Meaning & use
huffing
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“huffing” is a form of “huff”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbintransitive
Breathing out loudly and heavily, usually because of effort such as running or climbing.
Grammar: No object; often paired with puffing: huffing and puffing up the hill.
Patterns
- huffing and puffing
- huffing up something
He was huffing up the stairs with a heavy suitcase.
The old train came huffing into the station.
We were huffing and puffing by the time we reached the summit.
verbintransitiveinformal
Showing annoyance or impatience by sighing or complaining in a noisy way.
Grammar: No object; often followed by about or at: huffing about the delay.
Patterns
- huffing about something
- huffing at someone
She stood in the queue huffing at the slow cashier.
He kept huffing about the new rules but followed them anyway.
Stop huffing and tell me what is bothering you.
noununcountableslang
The dangerous practice of breathing in fumes from household chemicals to feel a short high.
Grammar: No plural or article: huffing is dangerous.
Patterns
- huffing of something
Health teachers warn that huffing can cause serious brain damage.
The school started a campaign against huffing among teenagers.
Doctors treated him for the effects of huffing.
Word forms
| base form | huff |
|---|---|
| third person singular | huffs |
| past tense | huffed |
| past participle | huffed |
Common combinations
- huffing and puffing
- The runners were huffing and puffing at the finish line.
- huffing about
- He's still huffing about the missed bus.
- huffing up the hill
- We were huffing up the hill with our bags.
- huffing in annoyance
- She left the room huffing in annoyance.
- stop huffing
- Stop huffing and help me carry this.
Synonyms and how they differ
- panting
- Panting describes quick, shallow breaths after effort or heat, while huffing is louder and more forceful.
- puffing
- Puffing suggests short, blowing breaths and is often paired with huffing, though it is a little lighter.
- sighing
- Sighing is a quieter, single release of breath, whereas huffing is noisier and more openly irritated.
- grumbling
- Grumbling means complaining in a low voice with words, while huffing shows the mood through noisy breathing.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: huffing or huffy?
huffing vs huffy
Huffy is an adjective for someone sulky or quick to take offense. Huffing is the verb form describing noisy breathing or complaining.
Practice
After carrying the sofa up three flights of stairs, they stood in the hallway, ___ and puffing.
Choose one answer.
Huffing and puffing is the set phrase for heavy, noisy breathing after effort. The other verbs do not form that common pair.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “huffing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.