riff
noun
\ ˈrif
\
\
Definition of riff
(Entry 1 of 3)
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
riff
verb (1)
riffed;
riffing;
riffs
Definition of riff (Entry 2 of 3)
: to perform, deliver, or make use of a riff
riff
verb (2)
riffed;
riffing;
riffs
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Examples of riff in a Sentence
Noun
He stole that riff from another song. a mock news program with humorous riffs on current eventsRecent Examples on the Web: Noun
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott riffs on the possibility the Pac-12 will have 9 a.m. (Pacific) games to be televised on Fox beginning in 2020 while appearing on James Crepea’s radio show. — oregonlive, "UO quarterback Justin Herbert’s childhood hero is former Oregon RB LaMichael James: Issues & Answers," 29 Aug. 2019 NBC News’ Dasha Burns unboxes the new riff on the old classic. — Petra Cahill, NBC News, "Puerto Ricans brace for Dorian, a royal Brexit twist and SNL shakes up its cast: The Morning Rundown," 28 Aug. 2019 This nonalcoholic riff picks up many of the original drink’s notes, substituting rich, smoky lapsang souchong black tea for the Islay whisky in the original. — M. Carrie Allan, The Denver Post, "No alcohol, no problem: How to make complex, balanced zero-proof cocktails," 23 Aug. 2019 In 2012, Danny sold Albee and a friend on the idea of opening the Cajun Cua (cua is crab in Vietnamese), a riff on Viet-Cajun restaurants like the Boiling Crab. — Andrea Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, "From the motherland to the U.S., a Vietnamese fish sauce with umami oomph," 21 Aug. 2019 Liquor is stored in mirrored cabinets, and the 10-item cocktail menu includes the Editor’s Note, a riff on an Old-Fashioned, and the Dinner Party, a tequila drink with mascarpone cream cheese. — Melanie D.g. Kaplan / Washington Post, Twin Cities, "Des Moines is on the move with an emerging food and cocktail scene," 20 Aug. 2019 But, even beyond Simone’s lyrics, her integrative technique itself—her use of gospel piano, blues melisma, classical riffs—refutes myths of black deprivation. — Emily Lordi, The New Yorker, "Toni Morrison and Nina Simone, United in Soul," 12 Aug. 2019 Like improv, the riffs tend to be self-reinforcing. — Cian Maher, The Verge, "Welcome to Lower Duck Pond, a fake town of 82,000 people," 1 Aug. 2019 White Reaper's sets last a little over an hour, each moment filled with as much energy as the last, and riffs that welcome stage divers, crowd surfers and mosh pits every other — if not every — song. — Laurel Deppen, The Courier-Journal, "How some kids from Louisville went from 'outcasts' to the 'World's Best American Band'," 10 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The Internet memes riffing on all these on-stage moments. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, "The Best Memes From the 2019 VMAs," 27 Aug. 2019 Inslee got the opportunity to riff about his key subject only as an answer to questions about manufacturing jobs and the economy. — Mark Dent, Fortune, "Abortion, Reparations, Israel: What to Watch for During the Second Democratic Debate," 30 July 2019 The characters’ real-life counterparts aren’t totally clear, but what’s obvious is the show’s desire to riff on the actual TV news drama of the last several years—particularly what’s occurred at major US networks like Fox and NBC. — Sangeeta Singh-kurtz, Quartzy, "Why are there so many new TV shows about TV shows?," 19 Aug. 2019 The fact that Buolamwini appears to have intended to riff on the superhero collective could weigh against her. — Tom Simonite, WIRED, "It's Justice League vs. Algorithmic Justice League in Court," 9 Aug. 2019 In the last week Arsement has posted videos of his brother pranking his family and his office, as well as a sketch video riffing on a popular meme about Area 51. — Dallas News, "North Texas YouTuber Preston Arsement surpasses 10 million subscribers with family-friendly channel," 24 July 2019 The Perfect Day culinary team experimented with flavors that riff on the country’s top three sellers — chocolate, strawberry and vanilla — and landed on milky chocolate, vanilla salted fudge and vanilla blackberry toffee. — Janelle Bitker, SFChronicle.com, "Bay Area company releases ice cream made with real dairy but no cows, at $20 a pint," 11 July 2019 At Hotel Le Louis Versailles Château, mixologists behind a glowing circular bar whip up cocktails riffing on royalty. — And Gareth Jones, National Geographic, "Here’s why Versailles will blow your mind—and how to visit," 9 July 2019 The dialogue is more riffing on Austen than taken from her, with a lot of great running gags and amusing intentional anachronisms. — Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, "Review: Shakespeare’s twins, Jane Austen romance delight in Santa Cruz," 31 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'riff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for riff
riff
noun
English Language Learners Definition of riff
music
: a short and usually repeated pattern of notes in a song
US, informal
: a short set of comments on a particular subject
See the full definition for riff in the English Language Learners Dictionary