1
: a brimming cup or glass
2
: something unusually large
1
: unusually large
a bumper crop
2
1
: a device for absorbing shock or preventing damage (as in collision)
specifically
: a bar at either end of an automobile
2
: one that bumps
3
: a brief interval on radio or television filled with music, video shots, or voice-overs that marks a break between a program and a commercial
Synonyms of bumper
Examples of bumper in a Sentence
Adjective
We had a bumper crop of tomatoes this year.
it's been a bumper year for movies aimed at intelligent adults
Noun (2)
cars have bumpers to protect them from damage in minor collisions
Recent Examples on the Web
Sierra Van Der Brug, Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
And 2025 was another bumper year for Lagardère, with revenues growing by 3%, driven largely by the success of Shelley’s operation.
—Francesca Cassidy, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
The approach angle was a problem as the bumper hit the log before the tires could.
—Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 8 Apr. 2026
Another photo shows the front of the dark red truck completely smashed after making contact with the brick wall, with its hood forced open and its bumper sagging toward the ground.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bumper
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Noun
Drones can be used to fly inconspicuously above cars, there’s smart bumpers that can fire a net to suspects’ tires, as a lot of us have already heard.
—Sierra Van Der Brug, Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
And 2025 was another bumper year for Lagardère, with revenues growing by 3%, driven largely by the success of Shelley’s operation.
—Francesca Cassidy, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
The approach angle was a problem as the bumper hit the log before the tires could.
—Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 8 Apr. 2026
Another photo shows the front of the dark red truck completely smashed after making contact with the brick wall, with its hood forced open and its bumper sagging toward the ground.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bumper
Cite this Entry
“Bumper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bumper. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bumper
1 of 2 adjective
bum·per
ˈbəm-pər 
: unusually large or fine
a bumper crop
bumper
2 of 2 noun
bump·er
ˈbəm-pər
: a device for absorbing shock or preventing damage (as in collision)
especially
: a bar at the front or back of a motor vehicle
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