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DictionarypoofSudden magical change
interjection / verb

poof

PUUF/pʊf/

A sudden change as if by magic.

Poof, the rabbit disappears as the smoke clears from the hat.

A text-free three-beat magic trick: a rabbit sits in an open top hat, a compact puff of smoke obscures it, and the smoke clears to reveal the same hat completely empty.
Etymology

The documented starting point is an imitation of a puff of breath or air. The supplied evidence does not establish how it acquired the disappearance or transformation use.

In context

Marcel van den Berg107:54
With mud, sometimes even just a slight little tap and poof, just completely put visibility down to zero
PADI Open Water Diver Manual: Full Answers & Scuba Tips for Beginners

More examples

  • The magician poofed out of sight.
  • The story has the castle poof into existence.
  • They watched the objects poof away.

Forms

poof · poofs · poofed · poofing

Similar words

vanish
States disappearance without the magical sound effect.
presto
An exclamation introducing a sudden or seemingly magical result.