fluff up

IPA/flˈʌf ˈʌp/
IPA/flˈʌf ˈʌp/

fluff up — phrasal verb

  • fluff upbase form
  • fluffs up3rd person singular
  • fluffing up-ing form
  • fluffed uppast simple

1. to shake, hit, or pull apart a soft object such as a pillow, cushion, or blanket

1.phrasal verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to shake, hit, or pull apart a soft object such as a pillow, cushion, or blanket so that it becomes looser, fuller, and more comfortable to use.

Example

Tariq fluffed up the old cushions on the sofa before his guests arrived.

separable: fluff up + noun

Hana fluffed up her pillow and settled into bed after a long day at work.

typical object: pillow

Common collocations
  • fluff up a pillow
  • fluff up cushions
  • fluff up a duvet
  • fluff up blankets
  • fluff up hair
Synonyms
  • plump up

    more common for pillows and cushions, often implies reshaping by pushing from underneath

  • puff up

    similar meaning but slightly more informal; also used for hair and feathers

Antonyms
  • flatten

    to press something so it becomes flat and no longer full of air

  • deflate

    to release air from something that was inflated

Grammar Patterns

fluff + noun + up

fluff up + noun

Usage Note

The object can come between 'fluff' and 'up' ('fluff the pillow up') or after 'up' ('fluff up the pillow'). Both orders are natural, but when the object is a pronoun ('it', 'them'), it must go between: 'fluff it up', not 'fluff up it'.

Common Mistakes

She fluffed up after washing her hair.
She fluffed up her hair after washing it.
'fluff up' needs a direct object (something you make fluffy), unless you mean 'fluff' as a different verb for hair.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: phrasal verb/1

All three describe making something softer or fuller, but they differ in typical objects and feel. 'Fluff up' is the most general — you can fluff up pillows, cushions, duvets, blankets, or hair by shaking, hitting, or pulling apart. 'Plump up' is more specific: it suggests pushing or patting from below or the sides to restore a rounded shape, and is used almost exclusively for pillows and cushions (e.g. 'She plumped up the sofa cushions'). 'Puff up' has an informal, often playful tone and is common for hair, feathers, or fur (e.g. 'The bird puffed up its feathers in the cold'). Use 'fluff up' as your default; choose 'plump up' when reshaping is the focus, and 'puff up' for hair or animal fur.

fluff up ↗plump up ↗puff up

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

The verb 'fluff' comes from late 19th-century English, probably from French 'flou' meaning 'downy' or 'soft', combined with the particle 'up' to emphasise making something fuller. The phrase originally described shaking feathers or wool back into shape, and later extended to pillows, cushions, hair, and other soft items.