huff

If someone huffs, they breathe out hard and loudly, often because they are annoyed, upset, or tired. Think of a child huffing after being told "no," or a runner huffing after a sprint. The word can also describe the feeling behind the breath: someone may huff and walk away when they are offended or irritated. It can also be a noun for the sound itself: "He let out a loud huff of frustration."

To huff is to breathe out in a short, forceful, noisy way. People often do this when they are annoyed, impatient, offended, or physically tired. You might huff after climbing stairs, and a child might huff when asked to share. The action usually shows a strong feeling without many words.

The word is also used more broadly for behavior that shows annoyance. If someone leaves the room in a bad mood after a small insult, you might say they went off in a huff. In that sense, the word suggests touchy or childish anger, often shown through body language, silence, or a sharp breath rather than open argument.

There are also older and less common uses, but in modern English the main idea is clear: a noisy breath or a display of annoyance. Whether it describes physical effort or a burst of bad temper, huff usually points to a quick, obvious reaction that others can see or hear.