dumped; dumping; dumps
1
a
: to let (something) fall in or as if in a heap or mass
He dumped his clothes on the bed.
She dumped the contents of her purse on the table.
also
: to empty (a bag, box, etc.) so that its contents fall in or as if in a heap or mass
She dumped her suitcase on the bed.
b
: to get rid of (something or someone) in an abrupt and often casual or careless way
I dumped the old coffee down the drain.
The week before, someone dumped an old lounge chair in their yard.—
Brad Schrade
Brad SchradeThe problem got dumped into his lap. [=someone shifted responsibility for solving the problem to him]
… sometimes … we'll dump the kids with my mother and go out …—John Sayles
John SaylesPresident Ford had included him on the 1976 ticket, dumping the incumbent vice president, Nelson Rockefeller.—Jay Nordlinger
Jay Nordlinger
often, informal
: to end a romantic relationship with (someone)
My boyfriend dumped me. = I got dumped (by my boyfriend).
c
: jettison
an airplane dumping gasoline
2
slang
: to knock down : beat
the man rushed out and dumped him—John Corry
John Corry3
: to sell in quantity at a very low price
specifically
: to sell abroad at less than the market price at home
4
: to copy (data in a computer's internal storage) to an external storage or output device
5
a
: to hit or throw short and softly
dump a pass to a running back
dump a bunt down the line
b
: to hit (a puck) deep into the opponent's zone in ice hockey
plural dumps
1
a
: an accumulation of refuse and discarded materials
b
: a place where such materials are dumped
2
a
: a quantity of reserve materials accumulated at one place
b
: a place where such materials are stored
ammunition dump
3
: a disorderly, slovenly, or objectionable place
4
: the act of copying data from a computer's internal storage to an external storage or output device
The output is a screen dump [=a transfer of the data displayed on a computer screen] to a dot matrix printer.—Maxine D. Brown
Maxine D. Brown5
often vulgar
: an act of defecation
—usually used with take
Synonyms
Examples of dump in a Sentence
Verb
You can dump the coats on the bed.
I dumped the coffee down the drain.
The murderer dumped the body in the river.
Noun
We bring our trash to the town dump on Saturdays.
all of the used packaging eventually ends up in the dump
Recent Examples on the WebJenny Gross, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
It had been transformed from pagan temple to church, then mosque, then military garrison and munitions dump.
—William Booth, Washington Post, 28 Nov. 2023
The Path Down The safest way to bring the ISS down to Earth, NASA officials say, is to dump it into the sparsely inhabited expanses of the southern Pacific Ocean to reduce the odds of harm.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 21 Nov. 2023
In early October, Björk joined agricultural workers and other citizens at a demonstration in Reykjavik, where some protesters dumped insecticide on fish carcasses that were laid out on the steps of Iceland’s parliamentary building.
—Allison Hussey, Pitchfork, 21 Nov. 2023
Meanwhile, unbeknown to her, Al Fayed is pressuring Dodi into dumping his fiancé in order to pursue a relationship with Diana — a move that results in the couple making that final, unscheduled stop in Paris so Dodi can pick up an engagement ring and fulfil his father’s ambitions.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 16 Nov. 2023
Las Vegas already fired its head coach, and Buffalo dumped its offensive coordinator Tuesday.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Los Angeles surveillance video shows man dumping large bag where headless body found
Police visited Haskell's home twice last week.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 13 Nov. 2023
My mother suffered in misery without pain medication, and our family dumped the agency and switched to a nonprofit.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2023
Tim Bontemps, chicagotribune.com, 21 June 2017
New York City is gradually transforming its largest trash dump, Fresh Kills on Staten Island, into a vast expanse of parkland and restored natural areas.
—Andres Viglucci, miamiherald, 15 June 2017
A colleague got him to shore, and flagged down a dump truck, which took Stewart to a hospital.
—Gary Robbins, sandiegouniontribune.com, 8 June 2017
The driver of the dump truck, which was registered to Harry Brown Trucking Inc., of Hebron, was not injured in the crash.
—Amy Lavalley, Post-Tribune, 7 June 2017
The chemicals apparently had leached into the water from waste dumps, where the company disposed of the chemicals, ending in the 1970s.
—Bob Shaw, Twin Cities, 6 June 2017
The latter came after Sandburg setter Connor Kelly put the Eagles on top with a dump and a block on consecutive plays.
—Logan Malloy, Daily Southtown, 30 May 2017
Three possessions later, Tapan put the public team up, 24-21, on a timely dump.
—Andrew J. Campa, Burbank Leader, 4 June 2017
A man paving a private driveway in Whiteford suffered life-threatening injuries when he was struck by a dump truck Tuesday afternoon, according to Harford County fire and EMS officials.
—David Anderson, The Aegis, 30 May 2017
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Verb
In September, a powerful storm dumped torrential rain over the Mediterranean, rupturing two dams in Libya and killing thousands in the city of Derna.
—Jenny Gross, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
It had been transformed from pagan temple to church, then mosque, then military garrison and munitions dump.
—William Booth, Washington Post, 28 Nov. 2023
The Path Down The safest way to bring the ISS down to Earth, NASA officials say, is to dump it into the sparsely inhabited expanses of the southern Pacific Ocean to reduce the odds of harm.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 21 Nov. 2023
In early October, Björk joined agricultural workers and other citizens at a demonstration in Reykjavik, where some protesters dumped insecticide on fish carcasses that were laid out on the steps of Iceland’s parliamentary building.
—Allison Hussey, Pitchfork, 21 Nov. 2023
Meanwhile, unbeknown to her, Al Fayed is pressuring Dodi into dumping his fiancé in order to pursue a relationship with Diana — a move that results in the couple making that final, unscheduled stop in Paris so Dodi can pick up an engagement ring and fulfil his father’s ambitions.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 16 Nov. 2023
Las Vegas already fired its head coach, and Buffalo dumped its offensive coordinator Tuesday.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Los Angeles surveillance video shows man dumping large bag where headless body found
Police visited Haskell's home twice last week.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 13 Nov. 2023
My mother suffered in misery without pain medication, and our family dumped the agency and switched to a nonprofit.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2023
Noun
Just four years later, Howard found himself being traded away in a salary dump.
—Tim Bontemps, chicagotribune.com, 21 June 2017
New York City is gradually transforming its largest trash dump, Fresh Kills on Staten Island, into a vast expanse of parkland and restored natural areas.
—Andres Viglucci, miamiherald, 15 June 2017
A colleague got him to shore, and flagged down a dump truck, which took Stewart to a hospital.
—Gary Robbins, sandiegouniontribune.com, 8 June 2017
The driver of the dump truck, which was registered to Harry Brown Trucking Inc., of Hebron, was not injured in the crash.
—Amy Lavalley, Post-Tribune, 7 June 2017
The chemicals apparently had leached into the water from waste dumps, where the company disposed of the chemicals, ending in the 1970s.
—Bob Shaw, Twin Cities, 6 June 2017
The latter came after Sandburg setter Connor Kelly put the Eagles on top with a dump and a block on consecutive plays.
—Logan Malloy, Daily Southtown, 30 May 2017
Three possessions later, Tapan put the public team up, 24-21, on a timely dump.
—Andrew J. Campa, Burbank Leader, 4 June 2017
A man paving a private driveway in Whiteford suffered life-threatening injuries when he was struck by a dump truck Tuesday afternoon, according to Harford County fire and EMS officials.
—David Anderson, The Aegis, 30 May 2017
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dump.' 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
Verb
perhaps from Middle Dutch dompen to immerse, topple; akin to Old Norse dumpa to thump, fall suddenly
First Known Use
Verb
1784, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
1784, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing dump
Articles Related to dump
Dictionary Entries Near dump
Cite this Entry
“Dump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dump. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
dump
1 of 2 verb1
: to let fall in a heap or mass
dump the coats on the bed
2
: to get rid of quickly or without concern
dumped us at the party and went home
got dumped by his girlfriend
3
: to dump trash or garbage
no dumping allowed
4
: to sell in quantity at a very low price
5
: to send a copy of (data in a computer's internal storage) to an external storage device (as a flash drive) or to an output device (as a printer)
dumper
noun
dump
2 of 2 noun1
: a place where discarded materials (as trash) are dumped
2
: a place where reserve military supplies are stored
an ammunition dump
3
: a disorderly or undesirable place
4
: the dumping of data stored in a computer
Legal Definition
dump
transitive verb
: to sell in quantity at a very low price
specifically
: to sell abroad at less than the market price at home
More from Merriam-Webster on dump
Nglish: Translation of dump for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of dump for Arabic Speakers
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