1
: an ostinato phrase (as in jazz) typically supporting a solo improvisation
also
: a piece based on such a phrase
2
: a rapid energetic often improvised verbal outpouring
especially
: one that is part of a comic performance
3
: a succinct usually witty comment
4
: a distinct variation : take
a disturbing … riff on the Cinderella story—
Daria Donnelly
Daria Donnelly
riffed; riffing; riffs
: to perform, deliver, or make use of a riff
Examples of riff in a Sentence
Noun
He stole that riff from another song.
a mock news program with humorous riffs on current events
Recent Examples on the Web
Quentin Thane Singer, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Never Enough mixes ethereal pop, Police-infused New Wave, and chainsaw riffs, all of it elevating Turnstile’s melodic sound to greater heights.
—Daniel Kohn, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2025
Stephen Daw, Billboard, 19 Sep. 2025
What really shines, though, are creations riffing on the rich array of international flavors that converge in Houston’s sprawling neighborhoods.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riff
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Noun
The band’s signature battering riffs and Lindberg’s screeching vocals have become synonymous with the extreme metal genre.
—Quentin Thane Singer, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Never Enough mixes ethereal pop, Police-infused New Wave, and chainsaw riffs, all of it elevating Turnstile’s melodic sound to greater heights.
—Daniel Kohn, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
With a tight runtime and 10 freewheeling new songs, the band embraces the energy of its beloved live show throughout the new project, as the members jam out in the studio while riffing off of one another to make a collaborative, occasionally improvisational project.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 19 Sep. 2025
What really shines, though, are creations riffing on the rich array of international flavors that converge in Houston’s sprawling neighborhoods.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riff
Cite this Entry
“Riff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riff. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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