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
Sam Reed, Glamour, 21 July 2025
This time, the goof who sprayed poison on our food did it for clicks.
—Joanna Allhands, AZCentral.com, 7 July 2025
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
What if the Steelers goofed letting Justin Fields go and bringing in Rodgers?
—Jim Reineking, USA Today, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for goof
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Noun
Gomez, always the goof in pics, is squatting in a pile of metallic balloons, reaching for the camera, while Swift, her bangs and red lipstick as perfectly in place as ever, leans back to gaze dreamily up at t—, are on brand for the duo.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 21 July 2025
This time, the goof who sprayed poison on our food did it for clicks.
—Joanna Allhands, AZCentral.com, 7 July 2025
Verb
Couples who are friends before lovers, on the other hand, likely see these as opportunities to goof off with their best friend.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
What if the Steelers goofed letting Justin Fields go and bringing in Rodgers?
—Jim Reineking, USA Today, 10 June 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 29 Jul. 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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