bumpy

adjective

ˈbəm-pē 

bumpier; bumpiest

1

: having or covered with bumps

2

a

: marked by bumps or jolts

b

: marked by or full of difficulties

bumpily

ˈbəm-pə-lē 

adverb

bumpiness

ˈbəm-pē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of bumpy

• rough
• uneven

Examples of bumpy in a Sentence

The road is very bumpy.

the bumpy skin of a cucumber

The flight was very bumpy.

The road was rough so we had a bumpy ride.

Recent Examples on the Web

In recent years, landslides have brought chaos to the Palos Verdes Peninsula, cracking the foundations of homes and turning Palos Verdes Drive South into a rutted, bumpy asphalt roller coaster. — Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

But the rollercoaster ride for AI could get bumpier with the latest reporting on OpenAI looking for ways to appease the White House. — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 2 July 2026

Cabin crew handed out chewing gum to ease ear pressure, meals were simple, and the sky was a bumpy place to eat anything at all. — Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Kaffir lime, bumpy and bitter-tasting fruit of the species Citrus hystrix, known for its fragrant leaves. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bumpy

• dumpy
• grumpy
• jumpy
• lumpy
• stumpy

Kids Definition

bumpy

adjective

ˈbəm-pē 

bumpier; bumpiest

: marked by bumps or bumping

a bumpy ride

bumpy skin

bumpily

-pə-lē 

adverb

bumpiness

-pē-nəs 

noun