puzzle
/ˈpʌzəl/ verb C1- To cause (oneself or someone, or their mind, etc.) to feel confused or mystified because they cannot understand a complicated matter, a problem, etc.; to confuse, to mystify, to perplex.
- To use (one's brain or mind) to try to work out a complicated matter, a problem, etc.; also, to try to work out (a complicated matter, a problem, etc.).
- Often followed by about, over, or upon: to feel confused or mystified because one cannot understand a complicated matter, a problem, etc.
- Often followed by about, over, or or upon: to think deeply in bewilderment to try to work out a complicated matter, a problem, etc. · We puzzled over the curious-shaped lock, but were unable to discover how the key should be inserted.
- To search in a confused or mystified manner.
- Followed by through: to solve a complicated matter, a problem, etc., by working through confusing or difficult matters.
Plural puzzle · He/she/it puzzles · Past puzzled · Past participle puzzled · -ing form puzzling
Verb forms
- Base form
- puzzle
- He/she/it
- puzzles
- Past
- puzzled
- Past participle
- puzzled
- -ing form
- puzzling
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
Dorothy was puzzled at this, for it sounded queer to hear a stuffed man speak, and to see him bow and walk along beside her.
Ah, _that’s_ the great puzzle!” And she began thinking over all the children she knew that were of the same age as herself, to see if she could have been changed for any of them.
Besides, _she’s_ she, and _I’m_ I, and—oh dear, how puzzling it all is!
“We’d best put it back on the rug where we found it,” said the sergeant, scratching his puzzled head in his perplexity.
Other matches
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