scuff

1 of 2

verb

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
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

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
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.
Verb
Calhanoglu then returns the ball to Darmian… … who finds Mkhitaryan’s run… … before the Armenia midfielder sets up Thuram, whose scuffed shot loops over the goalkeeper and into the net. Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025 Crafted with rubber soles designed with traction and typically using white or natural rubber that won’t scuff white boat decks, boat shoes are great for slippery surfaces, gangways, and ports. Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2025
Noun
Check your golf balls periodically for signs of damage such as cracks, deep scuffs, and chips that may interfere with their performance. Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2025 Step 2: Treat Stains and Do Overall Cleaning After brushing away the loose soil, use an art gum eraser to clean away scuffs and heavier soil. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for scuff

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of scuff was in 1768

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scuff. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

scuff

1 of 2 verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on scuff

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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