riffing Definition
- 1to play or perform a riff or riffs on a musical instrument
- 2to improvise or make up music, comedy, or other forms of entertainment on the spot
Using riffing: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "riffing" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The guitarist was riffing on his electric guitar.
Example
The comedians were riffing off each other's jokes.
Example
We spent the afternoon just riffing on our instruments.
Example
The actors were riffing on different scenarios during rehearsals.
riffing Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for riffing
- improvising
- jamming
- noodling
- playing around
Phrases with riffing
Example
The movie's soundtrack riffs off classic rock songs from the 70s.
to talk or write about a particular subject in a humorous or interesting way, often by making jokes or puns
Example
The comedian spent most of his set riffing on the absurdities of modern life.
Example
The jazz band's saxophonist was a real riff machine, constantly coming up with new melodies on the spot.
Summary: riffing in Brief
'Riffing' [ˈrɪfɪŋ] refers to playing or performing a riff on a musical instrument, or improvising music, comedy, or other forms of entertainment on the spot. It can be used in various contexts, such as musicians jamming together or comedians bouncing jokes off each other. 'Riffing' also extends into phrases like 'riff off,' which means taking inspiration from something to create something new, and 'riff on,' which means talking or writing about a particular subject in a humorous or interesting way.