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
The cancer impacts basal cells, which produce new skin cells, and often appear as a transparent bump on the skin. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 But then February data ticked up slightly, too, raising questions about whether this all amounts to a few bumps in the road — or the beginning of a more worrisome trend. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024 What to Consider Past guests have noted there may be a few bumps associated with an older building — it was built in 1882, after all. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024 What do bedbug bites look like? Bedbug bites are small red, itchy bumps sometimes surrounded by blisters or hives. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 Ko doesn’t recommend that people scratch at new bumps and blisters. Claire Wolters, Verywell Health, 12 Mar. 2024 Ingredients could have broken down into irritating chemicals once past their expiration date or there could be bacteria and yeast growing in the product, which could lead to infection and forms of skin irritation such as bumps and rashes. Audrey Noble, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2024 That seemed to be happening, but there have been bumps in the road for some of the same reasons people question the feasibility of the Carlsbad plant. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 Home hockey games for the Capitals generally produce a moderate bump in business. Ashraf Khalil, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
The team at Audi of America tell us that the U.S. version of the Q6 will make even more power: 422 hp, with a boost mode that bumps output to 456 hp, which gets it to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds using launch control. Karl Brauer, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2024 While heading to the bench, Johnson bumped South Carolina's Ashlyn Watkins, whose teammate Kamilla Cardoso then stepped in, shoving Johnson to the ground. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 Federal officials are also anticipating a later completion date, bumping the grand reveal back seven months to May 2037. Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 Since 2015, Four Seasons private jet tours have taken guests around the world and back again to see everything from remote landscapes to bumping cities, must-see sights, and exclusive restaurants. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2024 The first motorist bumped into the bicyclist and remained on the scene, while a second motorist struck the bicyclist and left the scene, Cottrell said. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024 The street wasn’t well lit, and the hostel reared up so suddenly from the footpath and was so tall and bright that walking past it in the dark felt a little like being in a tugboat bumping along the edge of an ocean liner. Fiona McFarlane, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Some firms, like Barclays and Goldman Sachs, have already bumped their targets up considerably to account for the latest rally. Derek Saul, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The device hooks onto a rifle’s stock, the part of the gun that is held against the shoulder, and harnesses the energy from the gun’s kickback to bump the stock back and forth, allowing the weapon to fire faster. Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 28 Feb. 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 28 Mar. 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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