thump

1 of 2

verb

thumped; thumping; thumps
Synonyms of thumpnext

transitive verb

1
: to strike or beat with or as if with something thick or heavy so as to cause a dull sound
2
3
4
: to produce (music) mechanically or in a mechanical manner
usually used with out
thumped out a tune on the piano

intransitive verb

1
a
: to inflict a thump
b
: to make or move with a thumping sound
2
: to make a vigorous endorsement
… got a couple of … Senators to thump for him.The New York Herald Tribune
thumper noun

thump

2 of 2

noun

: a blow or knock with or as if with something blunt or heavy
also : the sound made by such a blow

Examples of thump in a Sentence

Verb The boat thumped against the side of the pier. thumped the desk with his hand as he delivered his speech Noun The ball landed with a thump. gave her boyfriend a thump against the side of his head whenever he said something obnoxious
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The mood was festive and celebratory, despite the rough won-loss record, and music thumped while players braided each other’s hair. Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026 Morgan Gibbs-White, with a point to prove after his omission from England’s World Cup squad — as the home crowd continually chanted about throughout — thumped home after Omari Hutchinson rolled a free kick into his path. Andy Naylor, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Noun
You’ll be thrown around in your seat, which moves in sync with the action, along with thumps in the back, splashes of water, blasts of air, smoke, and flashes of light. Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026 The Yankees need Wells to provide at least some thump in a bottom third of the order that hasn’t been very good. Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thump

Word History

Etymology

Verb

imitative

First Known Use

Verb

1548, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1542, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thump was in 1542

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thump. Accessed 27 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

thump

verb
ˈthəmp
1
: to strike or beat with something thick or heavy so as to cause a dull sound
2
: to beat heavily : pound
thump noun

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