1
a
: of poor quality or nature
bum advice
b
: not valid or deserved
writing a bum check
c
: not pleasant or enjoyable
a bum trip
2
: affected or disabled by damage or injury
has a bum knee
bummed; bumming
1
: loaf
bummed around the house all day
2
: to spend time unemployed and often wandering
—often used with around
spent a couple of months bumming around Mexico
: to obtain by asking or begging : cadge
bum a cigarette
plural bums
1
informal + disapproving
: someone who lives off others and avoids work : sponge
He's a lazy bum.
2
: someone who performs a function poorly
The fans called the umpire a bum.
3
: someone whose time is devoted to a recreational activity
a beach bum
ski bums
4
informal + usually disparaging
: a person who has no established residence and wanders from place to place without lawful or visible means of support
bums sleeping on park benches
bummed; bumming; bums
US, informal
: disappoint, depress
—usually used with out
The news really bummed me out.
Examples of bum in a Sentence
Noun (1)
I decided to get off my bum and get some exercise
Adjective
that was bum advice that you got from that website
Verb (1)
spent most of the summer just bumming around the house
Noun (2)
if you expect an allowance, you have to do some chores and stop being such a bum
I feel sorry for bums and occasionally give them money
Recent Examples on the Web
Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2024
Tommy, left to prosecute the case against Rusty, has inherited a bum gig.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 26 July 2024
Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Grant invites Dina on the one-on-one, leaving the rest of the women feeling like this:
Even though they’re bummed, the women keep their comments positive.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bum
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
This was all done with a bum wrist, which posed as an inconvenience to him at times.
—Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2024
Tommy, left to prosecute the case against Rusty, has inherited a bum gig.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 26 July 2024
Verb
It is now applied to anyone who has not visited the shower trailer and is desperately trying to bum a cig.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Grant invites Dina on the one-on-one, leaving the rest of the women feeling like this:
Even though they’re bummed, the women keep their comments positive.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bum
Cite this Entry
“Bum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bum. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bum
1 of 5 nounbum
2 of 5 adjective1
a
: inferior sense 3, worthless
bum advice
b
: not true or deserved
a bum rap
c
: not enjoyable
a bum trip
2
: unable to work properly : disabled
a bum knee
bum
3 of 5 verb
bummed; bumming
1
: to wander around avoiding work
2
: to obtain by asking or begging
bum a ride
bum
4 of 5 noun1
: a person who avoids work and tries to live off others
Etymology
Noun
Middle English bom
Adjective
perhaps from 4bum
Verb
probably from bummer "one who avoids work"
Noun
probably short for bummer "one who avoids work," probably from German Bummler "loafer"
Verb
probably from bummer
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