1 B2 neutral
to fill something or a part of the body with air so it becomes rounder or larger
"He puffed out his cheeks and tried not to laugh."
separable
puff out
B2 neutral both transitive/intransitive
to make something fuller by blowing or swelling, or to exhale visibly
In plain English
to blow air so something gets bigger, or to breathe air out
What does "puff out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
to breathe or send something out in short bursts
"She puffed out a long breath when the exam ended."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
to stand or move in a way that makes you look larger or more important
"The bird puffed out its feathers to scare away the cat."
both
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
Literally, to send or make something out in puffs.
Actually means
to blow air so something gets bigger, or to breathe air out
Usage tip
Used literally for cheeks, chests, feathers, and smoke. Can also suggest pride or showy posture.
Words that pair with "puff out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
cheeks chest smoke breath feathers air
How to conjugate "puff out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
puff out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
puffs out
he/she/it
Past simple
puffed out
yesterday
Past participle
puffed out
have + pp
-ing form
puffing out
continuous
Hear "puff out" in the wild
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Other ways to say "puff out"
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Keep exploring
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