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
New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2026
The front lip spoiler with red lipstick sits below Darth Vader-like aero bits on the front bumper that lead into the front fenders.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 4 Mar. 2026
Some obvious changes in parenting guidelines over the years include no longer allowing kids to ride a bike without a helmet or travel in a car without a car seat—most parents have also banned crib bumpers and blankets from their infants cribs, too.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
Drivers are sending last-minute emails, riding each other’s bumpers, going too fast or too slow, slamming on their brakes, not letting each other merge.
—Rose Evans
updated March 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bumper
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Noun
There’s an improved front bumper with improved LiDAR sensors, a new wheel design, and concealed door handles.
—New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2026
The front lip spoiler with red lipstick sits below Darth Vader-like aero bits on the front bumper that lead into the front fenders.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 4 Mar. 2026
Some obvious changes in parenting guidelines over the years include no longer allowing kids to ride a bike without a helmet or travel in a car without a car seat—most parents have also banned crib bumpers and blankets from their infants cribs, too.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
Drivers are sending last-minute emails, riding each other’s bumpers, going too fast or too slow, slamming on their brakes, not letting each other merge.
—Rose Evans
updated March 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 Mar. 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 8 Mar. 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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