# fluff out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fluff-out
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to make something look bigger, softer, or fuller by shaking it or moving it with your hands.

For teachers: to increase the volume or loft of a soft object, such as a pillow or feathers, by agitation or manual manipulation.

## Examples

- You should fluff out the pillows before the guests arrive.
- The bird began to fluff out its feathers to stay warm in the cold morning air.
- The stylist spent several minutes attempting to fluff out the model's hair to create a more dramatic silhouette for the photoshoot.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He fluffed out of the cushions." but "He fluffed out the cushions." — the verb is transitive and takes a direct object without an extra preposition like 'of'.

## Usage notes

- usually applied to soft, fibrous, or feathered objects that can hold air.
- Teaching tip: use a physical gesture of shaking a pillow to demonstrate the meaning; contrast with 'flatten' to show the change in volume.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.