trumpet

1 of 2

noun

trum·​pet ˈtrəm-pət How to pronounce trumpet (audio)
1
a
: a wind instrument consisting of a conical or cylindrical usually metal tube, a cup-shaped mouthpiece, and a flared bell
specifically : a valved brass instrument having a cylindrical tube with two turns and a usual range from F sharp below middle C upward for 2¹/₂ octaves
b
: a musical instrument (such as a cornet) resembling a trumpet
2
: a trumpet player
3
: something that resembles a trumpet or its tonal quality: such as
a
: a funnel-shaped instrument (such as a megaphone) for collecting, directing, or intensifying sound
b(1)
: a stentorian voice
(2)
: a penetrating cry (as of an elephant)
trumpetlike adjective

Illustration of trumpet

Illustration of trumpet
  • trumpet 1a

trumpet

2 of 2

verb

trumpeted; trumpeting; trumpets

intransitive verb

1
: to blow a trumpet
2
: to make a sound suggestive of that of a trumpet

transitive verb

: to sound or proclaim on or as if on a trumpet
trumpet the news

Examples of trumpet in a Sentence

Noun the trumpet of a flower Verb He likes to trumpet his own achievements. The law was trumpeted as a solution to everything.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Barry Danielian: trumpet (2012-2014, 2023-present). Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2024 In New York, editors who come from Little Rock are rare, even more so ones who attended the University of Oklahoma and played trumpet in the Sooners’ marching band. Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024 At its 1928 Carnegie Hall premiere, Gershwin’s iconic masterpiece was a spirited composition, meant to reflect the kaleidoscope of sights and sounds on the streets of Paris with instruments that include real Parisian taxi horns, a trumpet, saxophone and snare drum. Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 That’s just the beginning: Here are five minutes to fall in love with tenors, the flute, the trumpet, Brahms, string quartets and so much more. Javier C. Hernández, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Without a Jackson performance to trumpet, the producers had to get creative. Paul Grein, Billboard, 28 Feb. 2024 Karpman is nominated for her score for Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction, a jazz soundtrack that comes alive with the use of multiple pianos and saxophones, as well as clarinets, trumpets, bass, drums and a string orchestra. Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2024 University of Michigan researcher Jacob Kerzner uncovered its complete musical orchestration, with parts for flute, cello, trumpet, trombone, percussion, violin, bass and piano, making the musical possible to perform for the first time in nearly a century. Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2024 In 2003, Odell Graham played trumpet in the five-member band Afro Jazziacts. Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 22 Feb. 2024
Verb
Policy-makers should start recognizing the world economy’s fault lines instead of trumpeting its resilience. Desmond Lachman, National Review, 8 Mar. 2024 Schiff, who has raised the most money, has run TV ads in recent weeks trumpeting Garvey’s two votes for Trump. Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 The figures trumpeted by Washington are indeed impressive. Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 Recorded at Nashville’s Dark Horse studio, the album is trumpeted as the one Kings of Leon have long wanted to make. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024 After a year of too many losses, the Chargers decidedly won the start of the offseason, their addition of Jim Harbaugh trumpeted as one of the franchise’s most significant victories. Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024 Despite broader public support for unions and headlines trumpeting contract wins for unionized workers in recent years, unionizing faces many barriers in the United States, and unionized private-sector workers remain a fraction of the total workforce. Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 21 Feb. 2024 The day after the island was liberated, an Evening Times headline trumpeted the existence of mass graves of alderney. Rebecca Panovka, Harper's Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 The release of Huawei’s Mate 60 Pro sparked a wave of nationalistic pride in the country, as state media trumpeted the Chinese company’s ability to withstand U.S. sanctions. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trumpet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English trompette, from Anglo-French, from trumpe trump

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trumpet was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near trumpet

Cite this Entry

“Trumpet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trumpet. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

trumpet

1 of 2 noun
trum·​pet ˈtrəm-pət How to pronounce trumpet (audio)
1
: a wind instrument consisting of a long cylindrical metal tube commonly once or twice curved and ending in a bell
2
: something shaped like a trumpet
3
: a sound like that of a trumpet

trumpet

2 of 2 verb
1
: to blow a trumpet
2
: to make a sound like that of a trumpet

More from Merriam-Webster on trumpet

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