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
Synonyms
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
Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2024
Looking back decades later with the Detroit Free Press, Kramer described it as a surrealistic goof.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 2 Feb. 2024
Alison Herman, Variety, 20 June 2024
Glen also proved the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as he and his dad were shown pulling funny faces for the camera and goofing off.
—Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 17 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for goof 
Noun
At first, Drew set out to remix Todd Phillips’s Joker as a stir-crazy lockdown goof and a spoof.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2024
Looking back decades later with the Detroit Free Press, Kramer described it as a surrealistic goof.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 2 Feb. 2024
Verb
Everyone gets a good laugh at the ridiculousness of me constantly running around and goofing on each other.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 20 June 2024
Glen also proved the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as he and his dad were shown pulling funny faces for the camera and goofing off.
—Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 17 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for goof
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'goof.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near goof
Cite this Entry
“Goof.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goof. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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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