buzz
/bʌz/ (bre, ipa) · /bʌz/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbəz/ (ame, mw)
buzz — verb
1. to produce a steady, low humming noise of the kind made by insects with fast-mov
to produce a steady, low humming noise of the kind made by insects with fast-moving wings, or by small electric devices.
A fat bee buzzed lazily around Sofia's strawberry jam at breakfast.
subject is an insect; typical SVO with adverb
The old fridge in Marcus's kitchen buzzes loudly every time it restarts.
buzz + adverb of manner (loudly)
Mosquitoes were buzzing near my ear all night, so I barely slept.
Lina's phone buzzed on the wooden table during the maths exam.
Outside the cabin, a small drone buzzed across the lake at sunset.
文法句型
something buzzes
用法筆記
Subject is typically an insect, an electrical appliance, or a small flying machine. Often paired with adverbs of manner (loudly, lazily, angrily) or directional phrases (around, past, near).
常見錯誤
2. to push a small button that makes a short electric sound, usually so that anothe
to push a small button that makes a short electric sound, usually so that another person notices you and comes to help or answer.
Mrs Chen buzzed for the nurse when her IV drip ran out.
buzz for + person you want to call
Just buzz me from reception and I'll come down to fetch you.
transitive: buzz + object (the person called)
The judge buzzed three times to silence the noisy courtroom.
On quiz night, Daniel buzzed first but gave the wrong capital city.
文法句型
buzz for someone
buzz someone
用法筆記
Frequently appears in hospital, hotel reception, intercom, and game-show contexts. The transitive form takes the called person as object (buzz me, buzz the doctor); the intransitive often pairs with 'for + person'.
常見錯誤
3. to let a visitor enter a building remotely by pushing an intercom switch, which
to let a visitor enter a building remotely by pushing an intercom switch, which unlocks the door and lets out a short electric sound.
When the courier arrived, Hana buzzed him in from her flat upstairs.
buzz + object + 'in' (most common particle)
The security guard buzzed us through after checking our staff cards.
buzz + object + 'through' for inner doors
Could you buzz Dr Patel up to the eighth floor when she rings the bell?
I rang the intercom for ages before someone finally buzzed me in.
- lock out
deliberately keep someone outside
文法句型
buzz somebody in / through / up
用法筆記
Always takes an object (the person being let in) plus a directional particle: in (most common), through, up. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense involves opening a door, not just signalling for attention.
常見錯誤
4. to dart from one spot to another in a quick, lively way, the way a busy worker h
to dart from one spot to another in a quick, lively way, the way a busy worker handles many tasks at once.
Waiters buzzed around the wedding hall, refilling glasses and clearing plates.
typical pattern: buzz around + busy location
Kenji was buzzing between the kitchen and the dining room all evening.
buzz between A and B for shuttle-like movement
Excited children buzzed about the playground as soon as the bell rang.
On opening night, Maya buzzed from table to table greeting old friends.
- loiter
stand or move slowly without purpose
文法句型
buzz around / about / between
用法筆記
Almost always followed by a directional adverb or preposition (around, about, between, from… to). The subject is usually a person, group of people, or animals — not an inanimate object.
常見錯誤
5. (used of a venue) to feel alive with crowds, noise, or excited activity, so that
(used of a venue) to feel alive with crowds, noise, or excited activity, so that the very air seems to vibrate with energy.
On Friday nights, the night market in Tainan really buzzes with food lovers.
subject is a place; buzz + with + noun
The newsroom was buzzing the morning the election results came in.
continuous tense for the moment of liveliness
Backstage buzzed with nervous dancers stretching minutes before curtain-up.
By eleven o'clock the rooftop bar was buzzing and every seat was taken.
- be deserted
completely empty and quiet
文法句型
a place buzzes with something
用法筆記
Subject is always a place (market, office, bar, city). Distinguish from sense 4 (a person buzzes around) and sense 6 (a person's mind buzzes with thoughts). The 'with + noun' pattern names what fills the place.
常見錯誤
6. (used of someone, or their head or mind) to feel crowded inside with quick, jumb
(used of someone, or their head or mind) to feel crowded inside with quick, jumbled thoughts that all demand attention at once.
After the job interview, Ravi's mind was buzzing with questions he forgot to ask.
mind / head + buzz + with + thoughts
Her head buzzed with wedding plans the whole train ride home.
I couldn't sleep — my brain was buzzing with ideas for the new song.
Sitting in the quiet library, Aiko felt her thoughts buzz uncontrollably.
- go blank
the mind producing no thoughts at all
文法句型
someone's mind buzzes with something
用法筆記
Subject is almost always 'mind', 'head', 'brain', or 'thoughts' — not a place (sense 5) and not a person's body in motion (sense 4). Frequently followed by 'with + plural noun' naming the thoughts.
常見錯誤
7. to chatter eagerly with other people about a piece of news, a rumour, or somethi
to chatter eagerly with other people about a piece of news, a rumour, or something exciting that has just happened.
The whole school was buzzing about Mei's surprise win at the science fair.
buzz about + noun for excited gossip
Reporters in the lobby buzzed with rumours that the minister would resign before noon.
buzz with + noun (rumours/news)
After the concert, fans buzzed excitedly about the singer's surprise duet with her brother.
The office had been buzzing all morning about who would replace the retiring CEO.
- gossip
often implies private or unverified talk; buzz is more public excitement
- chatter
neutral on tone; buzz adds an excited, energised feel
- abuzz (be ~ with)
adjective form expressing the same idea as a state
文法句型
buzz about + noun
buzz with + noun (rumours, gossip, news)
用法筆記
Subject is usually a group, place, or crowd rather than a single named person. Distinguish from sense 6 (MIND RACING): there the subject's mind buzzes with thoughts inside one head; here multiple people buzz aloud with shared talk.
常見錯誤
8. to feel a strong, happy rush of energy inside yourself, often after something go
to feel a strong, happy rush of energy inside yourself, often after something good or thrilling has happened.
Lina was still buzzing two hours after winning her first marathon medal.
be buzzing for personal post-event excitement
Marcus walked off the stage buzzing with adrenaline and shaking his cousin's hand.
buzz with + adrenaline/energy
The team was buzzing after beating the league champions in extra time.
Carlos felt his whole body buzzing as the rollercoaster pulled into the station.
- thrilled
adjective form, similar feel but less bodily
- exhilarated
more formal; suggests a peak rush
- pumped
informal, especially American; emphasises readiness for action
- deflated
the opposite emotional state after a let-down
文法句型
buzz with + emotion (excitement, energy, adrenaline)
be buzzing (after / from / about)
用法筆記
Subject is the person or body itself, not a place or crowd — that distinguishes this from sense 5 (a place buzzing with activity). Frequently appears in the present continuous ('is/are buzzing') to describe a current high.
常見錯誤
9. of a plane or its pilot, to sweep down and pass very close above a place, ship,
of a plane or its pilot, to sweep down and pass very close above a place, ship, or group of people, often as a show of force or a deliberate scare.
Two fighter jets buzzed the fishing boat just before sunrise on Tuesday.
buzz + vessel as a warning
The pilot buzzed his old farmhouse to wave at his mother in the yard.
buzz + place (informal personal use)
A small plane buzzed the beach so low that swimmers ducked into the water.
Naval helicopters buzzed the cargo ship for nearly an hour before turning back.
- overfly
neutral and formal; lacks the close, threatening sense of buzz
- swoop over
emphasises the diving motion but not necessarily the warning
文法句型
buzz + place / people / building
用法筆記
Always transitive — the place or target follows the verb directly without a preposition ('buzzed the boat', not 'buzzed over the boat'). Subject must be an aircraft or its pilot; using 'buzz' with cars or boats moving close belongs to a different verb (e.g. 'tail').
常見錯誤
10. to crop someone's hair down to a very short stubble by running electric clippers
to crop someone's hair down to a very short stubble by running electric clippers over their head.
The barber buzzed Diego's head before he left for basketball camp on Monday.
buzz + person's head with clippers
Aunt Rosa buzzed her son's hair on the back porch to save a trip to the salon.
buzz + somebody's hair
After losing the bet, Marcus let his teammates buzz his curls right down to the scalp.
The army recruits were buzzed in under three minutes each on the first morning.
文法句型
buzz + somebody / somebody's hair / somebody's head
用法筆記
Object is normally the person or their hair / head, not the clippers themselves. Common in American English and often paired with 'cut' as a noun ('a buzz cut'). Frequently passive when describing institutional contexts like the military.
常見錯誤
buzz — noun
1. a low, steady humming noise, like the one made by bees, flies, or some electrica
a low, steady humming noise, like the one made by bees, flies, or some electrical machines.
Marcus could hear the soft buzz of bees around the lavender bushes.
the buzz of [insects]
A faint buzz came from the old refrigerator in Aunt Rosa's kitchen.
a buzz from [machine]
The dentist switched on her drill, and a high buzz filled the small room.
Lina felt the steady buzz of the phone vibrating inside her coat pocket.
- silence
complete absence of sound
文法句型
a buzz of [noun]
the buzz of [noun]
用法筆記
Subject is usually a small insect, a vibrating device, or an electrical appliance. Distinguish from sense 3 (busy atmosphere): a 'buzz' here is a literal sound you can hear with your ears.
常見錯誤
2. a strong rush of excitement and pleasurable energy that comes over you while doi
a strong rush of excitement and pleasurable energy that comes over you while doing something enjoyable.
Sarah gets a real buzz from teaching her students how to paint.
get a buzz from + -ing
Climbing that frozen waterfall gave Marcus a huge buzz.
give someone a buzz from [activity]
There is nothing like the buzz of stepping onto the stage in front of a live audience.
Lina still feels a buzz every time her short film wins a small prize.
- boredom
the opposite feeling, when nothing excites you
文法句型
get a buzz from [noun/-ing]
give someone a buzz
用法筆記
Frequently follows 'get' or 'give', and pairs with 'from + activity'. Distinguish from sense 1 (humming sound): this is an internal feeling, not a sound. Distinguish from sense 4 (excited talk): sense 2 is what one person feels; sense 4 is what many people are saying.
常見錯誤
3. the lively, energetic mood of a place where lots of people are moving around, ta
the lively, energetic mood of a place where lots of people are moving around, talking, and enjoying themselves.
On Friday nights the night market has a real buzz about it.
a buzz about [place]
Marcus loves the buzz of busy coffee shops while he works on his novel.
the buzz of [place]
There was a great buzz in the stadium an hour before the match started.
The little fishing town loses its summer buzz once the tourists go home.
- vibe
very informal; emphasises overall feeling rather than busy energy
- atmosphere
more neutral; can be calm or lively
- buzziness
rare; same idea but less natural in everyday speech
- calm
quiet, still atmosphere with little activity
文法句型
a buzz about a place
the buzz of [place/event]
用法筆記
Subject is usually a place full of people: a market, a city, a stadium, a bar. Distinguish from sense 2 (thrill feeling): sense 3 belongs to a location, not to a person. Often appears with 'about' or 'in' a place.
常見錯誤
4. the excited, mostly positive things that lots of people are saying about a perso
the excited, mostly positive things that lots of people are saying about a person, product, or upcoming event.
There is a lot of buzz around Lina's new cooking show on social media.
buzz around [topic]
The young midfielder is creating quite a buzz among football scouts in Europe.
create a buzz among [group]
Marketing teams worked hard to build buzz before the new phone went on sale.
Have you heard the buzz about the Watanabe family's new bakery on Main Street?
- silence
no public talk or attention at all
文法句型
a buzz about [noun]
the buzz around [noun]
用法筆記
Subject of the buzz is usually a new product, film, restaurant, or rising person. Often combines with verbs like 'create', 'build', 'generate', or 'be'. Distinguish from sense 3 (lively atmosphere): sense 4 is talk happening across many people and channels, not the mood inside one place.