goose bumps
plural noun
: a roughness of the skin produced by erection of its papillae especially from cold, fear, or a sudden feeling of excitement
Examples of goose bumps in a Sentence
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Inside, the place that had been so hot as to be nearly unbearable on that morning 50 years ago was mostly empty, and the air-conditioning was cranked high enough to give me goose bumps.
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Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Image The Cement Garden By Ian McEwan The premise alone is goose bumps grim: After the death of their mother, four children decide to hide her body in a trunk of cement in their basement and fend for themselves rather than surrender to social workers and foster care.
—M.l. Rio, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
Every one of them is liable to give you goose bumps or knock your shoulders back.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2024
Every time her vocals seamlessly shifted from a keen voice, sharp as a blade, to a beautiful singing voice, the audience broke out in goose bumps, breath bated.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2024
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Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Image The Cement Garden By Ian McEwan The premise alone is goose bumps grim: After the death of their mother, four children decide to hide her body in a trunk of cement in their basement and fend for themselves rather than surrender to social workers and foster care.
—M.l. Rio, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
Every one of them is liable to give you goose bumps or knock your shoulders back.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2024
Every time her vocals seamlessly shifted from a keen voice, sharp as a blade, to a beautiful singing voice, the audience broke out in goose bumps, breath bated.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for goose bumps
Cite this Entry
“Goose bumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goose%20bumps. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
goose bumps
noun plural
: a roughness of the skin produced by erection of its papillae especially from cold, fear, or a sudden feeling of excitement
called also goose pimples
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