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
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 Web
Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025
Atmospheric rivers out West also tend to dump their heaviest rain over the open water in the Pacific, because the storms they’re associated with typically peak in strength there.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for dump
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Verb
The dogs were reported by passersby who alerted the KC Pet Project that dogs appeared to be dumped and roaming the area.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025
Atmospheric rivers out West also tend to dump their heaviest rain over the open water in the Pacific, because the storms they’re associated with typically peak in strength there.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for dump
Cite this Entry
“Dump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dump. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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