bump

1 of 2

noun

plural bumps
1
: a relatively abrupt convexity or protuberance on a surface: such as
a
: a swelling of tissue
Her face flawless. Not a bump, a splotch or a freckle.Katy Kelly
b
: a sudden rise or uneven area in a road surface likely to jolt a passing vehicle
a bump in the road
c
phrenology : a cranial protuberance
2
a
: a sudden forceful blow, impact, or jolt
felt a bump when the boat hit the dock
b
3
: an action of thrusting the hips forward with an abrupt suggestive motion (as in a dance or in a burlesque striptease act) compare grind entry 2 sense 4
4
: baby bump
Confirming her pregnancy at the September 6 MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West's ex, 28, showed off her bump for the first time on the red carpet.Allison Corneau
5
: an increase in amount
a slight bump in wages/prices
… since "Glee" burst on the scene last fall, some local show choirs have seen a bump in auditions …Kristin Tillotson
6
slang : a small quantity of an illicit drug when inhaled in powdered form at one time
At her first few shows Savannah did bumps of coke off her pinkie before hitting the stage.Peter Wilkinson
7
volleyball : the act or an instance of bumping (see bump entry 2 sense 4) the ball with the forearms
Loara High volleyball player Juli Miles demonstrates how to execute a bump during a match … . As the ball approaches, bring in your elbows and lock them so that your forearms are close to touching, which creates a nice, flat platform for the ball to bounce off.Laura Czingula

bump

2 of 2

verb

bumped; bumping; bumps

transitive verb

1
a
: to strike or knock (something, such as a body part) with sudden force or violence
I fell and bumped my head.
He bumped his elbow on/against the table.
b
: to hit and move or dislodge (someone or something)
Be careful not to bump that vase.
She accidentally bumped [= knocked] my drink out of my hand.
One day, when I was lining up to go into … class, another boy accidentally bumped me with his shoulder …Simon Troeth
2
a
: to move (someone or something) to a different level, position, rank, etc.
rates being bumped up
The team got bumped out of first place.
Bumping a meeting to the next week only makes the next week more busy.Adaira Landry and Resa E. Lewiss
b
: to remove (someone or something) usually by virtue of seniority or priority
The flight was overbooked, so I was bumped.
… opt for the morning to kick-start the day and stop your evening workout getting bumped off the list.Janan Jay
3
: to cause (a post or thread on social media) to move to a more prominent and noticeable position
Just wanna bump this tweet again on your feeds …LaurenZside, on Twitter
Scammers … post about a hurt animal. … They ask the public to "bump the post" and when it is shared widely, they add a malicious link.Erin Miller
4
volleyball : to hit (the ball) with the forearms held close together and facing upward (as when receiving a serve)
Hitting a ball with your bare forearms might sound painful, but it won't be if you learn how to bump the ball properly.Eric Rinehimer
5
US slang : to play or listen to (recorded music and especially rap)
… a portable DVD/CD player that bumps the new Snoop Dogg through surround-sound speakers …Daniel G. Habib

intransitive verb

1
: to strike or knock against something or someone with a sudden forceful thud or jolt
often used with into or against
The boat bumped against the pier.
They bumped into us from behind.
2
: to proceed in an up and down motion across a rough surface
The truck bumped along the dirt road.
3
: to encounter something that is an obstacle or hindrance
usually used with into or against
The Americans have pushed off that conversation, which risks bumping into that country's sensitive immigration politics.Alexander Panetta
They're bumping against the limits of technology. = They're bumping up against the limits of technology.
Phrases
bump into
: to encounter especially by chance

Examples of bump in a Sentence

Noun He wound up with a few minor bumps and bruises from the fight. Did you feel a bump? Verb I have a bruise from where I bumped my head. Be careful not to bump the vase. You nearly bumped me off the edge! The jolt bumped him right out of his seat. They bumped into us from behind. The boat bumped against the pier. The TV show will be bumped to a new time. Increasing fuel costs are bumping the company's prices higher. The loss bumped us out of first place.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
How is a hematoma different from a bruise? Bruises and hematomas are similar in that both can occur as a result of a blow, bump, fall or other injury. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024 The pay bumps spurred criticism from a union representing 50,000 flight attendants at other major U.S. airlines — a labor group trying to organize Delta’s flight attendants. Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2024 The increases this year represent around a $250 bump per year for students at each university. Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 23 Apr. 2024 On Monday, April 22, the singer shared an Instagram video with her bump on display in a form-fitting dress. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024 The injuries reportedly included bumps, bruises and broken bones. Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024 In 2023, retirees and others saw an 8.7% COLA bump for Social Security benefits, as well as Supplemental Security Income benefits. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 18 Apr. 2024 Even tiny bumps and turns in the track cause the velocity to fluctuate, and your body can easily feel it. Rhett Allain, WIRED, 12 Apr. 2024 Kardashian’s bare bump was also on show in the shot. Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
Verb
The gay clubs in Rio are going to be bumping this one. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2024 The city has tried to combat the shortage for years by continuously boosting the department's budget and officer salaries, including Mayor Joe Hogsett bumping first-year officer base pay last year to $72,000. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Apr. 2024 Add more housing units, bumping the number from the existing 30,500 by an additional 56,400 by 2055. Alexandra Hardle, The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024 One of my favorite NBA traditions is how the music in the Lakers locker room, when on the road, is usually bumping some local artist. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024 California made headlines this month by bumping its minimum wage to $20 for some workers. Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024 Meanwhile, bumped bobs and bouffant wigs were an homage to The Supremes. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 13 Apr. 2024 Their first date was on January 28, 1977, and right away, Rick knocked over a glass of water and bumped his head on a light trying to clean up the mess. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024 The professional golf world is bumping along down two separate paths, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, and those have converged at the Masters. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bump.' 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

probably imitative of the sound of a blow

First Known Use

Noun

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1558, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bump was in 1533

Dictionary Entries Near bump

Cite this Entry

“Bump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bump. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

bump

1 of 2 noun
1
: a forceful blow, shock, or jolt
2
: a rounded lump
especially : a swelling of tissue (as from a blow)

bump

2 of 2 verb
1
: to strike or knock against something with force or violence
2
: to move along unevenly : jolt

More from Merriam-Webster on bump

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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