ENGLISH
REFERENCE

stuff

n. · v.
US //ˈstəf// UK //stˈʌf// stuff
  1. 1 substance or material (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the material that something is made of.

    the fundamental substance or matter that constitutes a physical object.

    Example

    This pillow is filled with some kind of soft, recycled stuff.

    Example

    The engineers are testing the physical properties of the stuff used to coat the exterior of the spacecraft.
  2. 2 illegal drugs (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    a secret way to talk about illegal drugs, especially heroin.

    a slang term for illicit narcotics, frequently used within drug-using subcultures to refer to heroin.

    Example

    The police believed he was selling the stuff out of his garage.

    Example

    Undercover agents spent months tracking the distribution of the stuff across the city's northern districts.
Show 5 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 to fill tightly (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to push a lot of things into a small space.

    to pack or cram a container or cavity with a substance or objects until it is full.

    Example

    She managed to stuff all her winter clothes into one small suitcase.

    Example

    The courier had to stuff the remaining parcels into the back of the van to ensure every delivery was made before the deadline.
  2. 4 to overeat (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to eat so much food that you feel very full.

    to consume food to the point of satiety or excess; often used reflexively.

    Example

    We stuffed ourselves with pizza and cake at the birthday party.

    Example

    It is easy to stuff yourself at an all-you-can-eat buffet and regret the decision an hour later.
  3. 5 to prepare food (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

    to put a mixture of bread, herbs, or meat inside a chicken or vegetable before cooking it.

    to fill the cavity of an item of food, such as a turkey or a bell pepper, with a seasoned mixture before cooking.

    Example

    My grandmother always stuffs the turkey with her secret breadcrumb recipe.

    Example

    The chef demonstrated how to stuff the mushrooms with a delicate blend of garlic, herbs, and goat cheese.
  4. 6 taxidermy (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    to fill the skin of a dead animal so it looks real for display.

    to preserve a deceased animal by filling its skin with material to restore its lifelike appearance for exhibition.

    Example

    The museum has a collection of birds that were stuffed over a hundred years ago.

    Example

    The hunter decided to have the deer head stuffed and mounted on the wall of his cabin.
  5. 7 to dismiss or reject (v.)
    C1 Advanced British English Informal Vulgar

    a rude way to say you do not care about something or you refuse it.

    an imperative used to express contemptuous dismissal or total rejection of a suggestion or object.

    Example

    If they won't give me a pay raise, they can stuff the job.

    Example

    When the landlord demanded another month of rent in advance, the tenant told him he could stuff it and moved out that night.
Etymology 1

From Middle English stuf, stuffe, borrowed from Medieval Latin stuffa and its etymon Old French estofe, estoffe, estuf, estuffe, stoffe, from estoffer, estofer (“to provide what is necessary, equip, stuff”), borrowed from Old High German stoffōn, from Proto-West Germanic *stoppōn (“to clog up, block, fill”). More at stop.

Etymology 2

From Middle English stuffen (“to equip, furnish”), borrowed from Old French estoffer, estofer (“to provide what is necessary, equip, stuff”), borrowed from Old High German stoffōn, from Proto-West Germanic *stoppōn (“to clog up, block, fill”). More at stop.

Word family
Idioms9 entries

© 2026 English Reference