stuff

noun uncountable informal

UK /stʌf/

1
a variety of objects or things
What’s all this stuff on my desk?
By the time we got to the sale, all the good stuff was gone.
Synonyms and related words
General words for objects
thing
object
article
1. 1a
  the things that belong to a particular person or activity or in a particular place
  The school stuff goes on this shelf.
  the tennis/kitchen/baking stuff
  someone’s stuff:
  Would you get your stuff out of here?
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for possessions
  real estate
  property
  stuff
2. 1b
  things that are not important
  I’m telling him we don’t want all that stupid stuff here.
  Synonyms and related words
  Unimportant or unnecessary thing or detail
  stuff
  detail
  non-issue
2
the basic material or substance that people use for making something
The costumes were made of thin, gauzy stuff.
Wheat’s the stuff they use to make spaghetti and cereal.
We need salad stuff.
Synonyms and related words
General words for materials and substances
substance
material
powder
1. 2a
  spokenused for talking about a substance or material when you do not know the correct name
  What’s that sticky stuff in your hair?
  Get me some of that stuff for fixing windows.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used when you do not know, or cannot remember what someone or something is called
  X
  so-and-so
  widget
3
qualities that are an important special part of something, for example a person’s character or experiences
I think he has the right stuff for the job.
Synonyms and related words
Important thing or detail
feature
priority
element
1. 3a
  qualities, activity, or behaviour that are especially negative or upsetting
  There was a lot of bad stuff going on at that school.
  Synonyms and related words
  Miscellaneous bad things
  a necessary evil
  a sore point/spot/subject
  bear/take the brunt of something
4
general information
I already know all that stuff.
good stuff:
They publish a lot of good stuff.
Synonyms and related words
General words for information, news and facts
information
data
content
5
used for saying that what someone says or thinks is nonsense
Rachel tried to give me that stuff about being ignored.
Synonyms and related words
Nonsense
nonsense
drivel
rubbish

phrases

...and stuff (like that)

do your stuff

know your stuff

the stuff of dreams/legends/nightmares etc

stuff

noun uncountable informal

US /stʌf/

1
a variety of objects or things
What’s all this stuff on my desk?
By the time we got to the sale, all the good stuff was gone.
Synonyms and related words
General words for objects
thing
object
article
1. 1a
  the things that belong to a particular person or activity or in a particular place
  The school stuff goes on this shelf.
  the tennis/kitchen/baking stuff
  someone’s stuff:
  Would you get your stuff out of here?
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for possessions
  real estate
  property
  stuff
2. 1b
  things that are not important
  I’m telling him we don’t want all that stupid stuff here.
  Synonyms and related words
  Unimportant or unnecessary thing or detail
  stuff
  detail
  non-issue
2
the basic material or substance that people use for making something
The costumes were made of thin, gauzy stuff.
Wheat’s the stuff they use to make spaghetti and cereal.
We need salad stuff.
Synonyms and related words
General words for materials and substances
substance
material
powder
1. 2a
  spokenused for talking about a substance or material when you do not know the correct name
  What’s that sticky stuff in your hair?
  Get me some of that stuff for fixing windows.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used when you do not know or cannot remember what someone or something is called
  doodad
  so-and-so
  widget
3
qualities that are an important special part of something, for example a person’s personality or experiences
I think he has the right stuff for the job.
Synonyms and related words
Important thing or detail
feature
priority
element
1. 3a
  qualities, activity, or behavior that are especially negative or upsetting
  There was a lot of bad stuff going on at that school.
  Synonyms and related words
  Miscellaneous bad things
  a necessary evil
  a sore point/spot/subject
  bear/take the brunt of something
4
general information
I already know all that stuff.
good stuff:
They publish a lot of good stuff.
Synonyms and related words
General words for information, news and facts
information
data
content
5
used for saying that what someone says or thinks is nonsense
Rachel tried to give me that stuff about being ignored.
Synonyms and related words
Nonsense
nonsense
drivel
garbage

phrases

...and stuff (like that)

do your stuff

(the) hard stuff

know your stuff

the stuff of dreams/legends/nightmares etc.

stuff

verb transitive

UK /stʌf/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	stuff
he/she/it	stuffs
present participle	stuffing
past tense	stuffed
past participle	stuffed

1
to push something soft into a space or container
stuff something into something:
Alice quickly stuffed her clothes into a suitcase and left.
Synonyms and related words
To put something inside something
bag
bed
bottle
2
to fill a container or space with something, especially something soft
stuff something with something:
It’s cheaper to stuff the pillows with foam than with feathers.
Synonyms and related words
To fill a thing or place
fill
cram
stuff
1. 2a
  to fill meat or vegetables with small pieces of another type of food
  stuff something with something:
  We could stuff the pasta with cheese and vegetables.
  Synonyms and related words
  Prepare food for cooking or eating
  bake
  beat
  blanch
2. 2b
  to fill a dead animal’s skin so that it looks alive
  Dad had that big fish he caught stuffed.
  Synonyms and related words
  To fill a thing or place
  fill
  cram
  stuff

phrases

stuff it

stuff yourself/your face

stuff

verb transitive

US /stʌf/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	stuff
he/she/it	stuffs
present participle	stuffing
past tense	stuffed
past participle	stuffed

1
to push something soft into a space or container
stuff something into something:
Alice quickly stuffed her clothes into a suitcase and left.
Synonyms and related words
To put something inside something
bag
bed
bottle
2
to fill a container or space with something, especially something soft
stuff something with something:
It’s cheaper to stuff the pillows with foam than with feathers.
Synonyms and related words
To fill a thing or place
fill
cram
stuff
1. 2a
  to fill meat or vegetables with small pieces of another type of food
  stuff something with something:
  We could stuff the pasta with cheese and vegetables.
  Synonyms and related words
  Prepare food for cooking or eating
  bake
  beat
  blanch
2. 2b
  to fill a dead animal’s skin so that it looks alive
  Dad had that big fish he caught stuffed.
  Synonyms and related words
  To fill a thing or place
  fill
  cram
  stuff

phrases

stuff it

stuff yourself/your face

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