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
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
: demotion
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
Allison Corneau5
: 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
Kristin Tillotson6
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
Peter Wilkinson7
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
Laura Czingula
bumped; bumping; bumps
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
Simon Troeth2
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
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
Janan Jay3
: 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 X, formerly Twitter
LaurenZside, on X, formerly TwitterScammers … 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
Erin Miller4
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
Eric Rinehimer5
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
Daniel G. Habib1
: 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
Alexander PanettaThey're bumping against the limits of technology. = They're bumping up against the limits of technology.
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
John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2025
Measles Explained Measles is a viral disease known for often causing a rash—made up of large, flat spots and raised bumps—that starts on the face and neck and spreads down the body.
—Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2025
Our team noted whether the vacuums were able to navigate around the house without bumping into furniture or getting caught on area rugs.
—Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bump
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
There are several ways to potentially explain that smaller bump (a third star, a very large planet in a very close orbit), but most of them are highly improbable.
—John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2025
Measles Explained Measles is a viral disease known for often causing a rash—made up of large, flat spots and raised bumps—that starts on the face and neck and spreads down the body.
—Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
Its 116 hp, 1.6-liter inline-four engine was bumped in displacement to 1.8 liters for the 1994 model year.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2025
Our team noted whether the vacuums were able to navigate around the house without bumping into furniture or getting caught on area rugs.
—Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bump
Cite this Entry
“Bump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bump. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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