stuff
gb/stˈʌf/ us/stˈʌf/
A2
English
~ 1500
cucc, dolog, holmi, megtöm, begyömöszöl, telepakol, rátermettség, belső tartás, képesség
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s stuff
I need to pack my stuff before we leave.
Össze kell pakolnom a cuccaimat, mielőtt elindulunk.
She left all her stuff at my apartment.
Az összes cuccát az én lakásomban hagyta.
There's some old stuff in the garage we should throw away.
Can you help me carry this stuff upstairs?
He’s always buying new stuff he doesn’t need.
Learner examples
I put my stuff in the bag.
Betettem a cuccaimat a táskába.
This is my stuff on the table.
Ezek az én cuccaim az asztalon.
She has a lot of stuff in her room.
We need to move the stuff outside.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'stuff' with 'staff'. 'Stuff' means things; 'staff' means employees.
Meaning
Unspecified items or materials
Collocations
pack stuff
|get stuff
|bring stuff
|all my stuff
Synonyms
things (Very close in meaning, but 'things' is slightly more general and common in formal contexts as well.)
|
belongings (Refers specifically to personal possessions, often in a more formal tone.)
Antonyms
nothing (Indicates the absence of any items or materials.)
Themes
daily life
|general
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Things or materials that are not named or described in detail.
A collection of things, materials, or substances without specifying exactly what they are.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
to stuff [something] with [something]
He stuffed his clothes into the suitcase.
Begyömöszölte a ruháit a bőröndbe.
She stuffed the envelope with cash.
Megtömte a borítékot készpénzzel.
I stuffed my mouth with popcorn.
They stuffed the closet until it wouldn’t close.
Learner examples
I stuffed my bag with books.
Könyvekkel tömtem meg a táskámat.
She stuffed the box with toys.
Telepakolta a dobozt játékokkal.
He stuffed his pockets with candy.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'stuff' (verb) with 'staff'. Also, 'stuff up' in some dialects means 'block' or 'make a mistake'.
Meaning
Fill something tightly
Collocations
stuff a bag
|stuff pockets
|stuff a turkey
Synonyms
fill ('Fill' is more general and neutral; 'stuff' often suggests filling quickly, carelessly, or tightly.)
|
pack ('Pack' implies careful arrangement; 'stuff' may imply less care.)
Antonyms
empty (Means to remove all contents from something.)
Themes
daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To put a lot of things into a space until it is full.
To fill a container, space, or object completely, often so that it becomes full or overfull.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
3
She’s made of tough stuff and won’t give up easily.
Kemény fából faragták, és nem adja fel könnyen.
He showed his stuff in the final game.
A döntő mérkőzésen megmutatta, mit tud.
That kind of stuff is what makes her a great leader.
Learner examples
He showed his stuff in the race.
A versenyen megmutatta, mit tud.
She is made of strong stuff.
Kemény fából faragták.
That stuff makes him a good teacher.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this refers to physical objects, not personal qualities, if context is unclear.
Meaning
Abilities or qualities someone has
Collocations
made of strong stuff
|show your stuff
Synonyms
qualities (More formal and specific than 'stuff'.)
|
character (Focuses on moral or personality traits rather than general ability.)
Antonyms
weakness (Refers to lack of ability or poor qualities.)
Themes
emotions
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The abilities or qualities that make someone good for something.
The qualities, abilities, or character that someone shows, often when talking about whether they are suitable for something.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stuff
IPA
GB/stˈʌf/
US/stˈʌf/
Syllables & stress
stuff (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (stuff)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: stuff
- Plural: stuff
Verb
- Base: stuff
- 3rd Person Singular: stuffs
- Present Participle: stuffing
- Past: stuffed
Word family
Forms
stuffs
verb
stuffing
verb
stuffed
verb
Related words
stuffy
adjective B1
Advanced or less common
stuffiness
noun B2
Expressions
do your stuff
1/dˈu jˈʊɹ stˈʌf/
idiom
informal
Perform usual skill/activity
To do what you are good at or usually do well.
Examples
- Okay team, go out there and do your stuff!
- The magician came on stage and did his stuff.
get your stuff together
1/ɡˈɛt jˈʊɹ stˈʌf təɡˈɛðɚ/
idiom
informal
Organize belongings or life
To collect your things and prepare to leave, or to get organized in life or work.
Examples
- You’d better get your stuff together; the bus leaves in 10 minutes.
- He needs to get his stuff together if he wants to pass the exam.
stuff like that
1/stˈʌf lˈaɪk ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
informal
Similar unspecified things
Used to talk about other things that are like the ones already mentioned without naming them all.
Examples
- We talked about movies, music, and stuff like that.
- They sell clothes, shoes, and stuff like that.