Puffed out means exhausted or out of breath, typically from physical exertion: I was completely puffed out after climbing those stairs.
The image is of someone breathing heavily, cheeks puffing with each labored exhale.
In British usage especially, it's a casual way to say you're winded or spent.
1. exhausted — breathless, Lacking air, gasping; winded (Short of breath); gasping (Breathing in sharp gulps); panting (Rapid labored breathing); fatigued · tired · spent · drained · wheezing · huffing · labored breathing · exerted · overexerted · knackered
2. expanded — inflated, Expanded with gas; swollen (Abnormally enlarged); distended (Swollen from pressure within); bloated (Swelled from excess); bulging · billowed · ballooned · plumped · poofy · rounded · protruding · blown up · bulbous · pouched
Opposites
INFLATION/EXPANSION STATEpuffed out ≠ deflated Emptied of pressure; flat · collapsed · sunken · flattened · drawn in
PHYSICAL EXERTION/BREATHINGpuffed out ≠ fresh Newly made, not stale; rested · recovered · energized · unfatigued · full of energy
Family
puff, out, puffy, puffed, puffing, puffs, puffery, puffer, puffiness
- Familiarity
- Top 200,000
- Profile
- Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G