hump

1 of 2

noun

ˈhəmp 

1

: a rounded protuberance: such as

a

: humpback sense 1

b

: a fleshy protuberance on the back of an animal (such as a camel, bison, or whale)

c(1)

: mound, hummock

(2)

: mountain, range

the Himalayan hump

2

British : a fit of depression or sulking

3

: a difficult, trying, or critical phase or obstacle

—often used in the phrase over the hump

humped

ˈhəm(p)t 

adjective

hump

2 of 2

verb

humped; humping; humps

transitive verb

1

usually vulgar : to copulate with

2

: to exert (oneself) vigorously

3

: to make humpbacked : hunch

4

chiefly British : to put or carry on the back : lug

also : transport

intransitive verb

1

: to exert oneself : hustle

… with an appetite like that, he's going to have us humping to keep him supplied with food.

—Olivia Butterworth

2

: to move swiftly : race

Synonyms of hump

Noun

• pouts
• dumps
• pet
• blues
• sulk
• irritability
• irritableness

Verb

• struggle
• strive
• labor
• work

Examples of hump in a Sentence

Noun

failing her A-levels has certainly given her the hump

a cloud-capped hump straddles the border separating the two countries

Verb

the farmers had to really hump to get the harvest in before the rains

the boat was really humping before the motor started to sputter all of a sudden

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Experts emphasize the importance of distinguishing between a true buffalo hump and other conditions. —Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026

Much has been made of the Green Bay Packers’ inability to get over the playoff hump, not only last season but in the prior six as well under head coach Matt LaFleur. —Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026

Verb

All of the animals skidded on the slick ice, but the frantic cow made it to the bank, humped her way to the top, and hooked her front legs over. —Frank Glaser, Outdoor Life, 1 Apr. 2026

She and her son are seen posing in front of a mirror together, before Spears begins speaking in an English accent and seemingly simulating a humping motion while wearing tight shorts and a top that exposes her midsection. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

akin to Middle Low German hump bump, Dutch homp lump, chunk, Frisian homp, himp

First Known Use

Noun

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1785, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing hump

• dowager's hump
• dry hump
• gets the hump
• gives her the hump
• hump day
• over the hump
• the hump

Rhymes for hump

• bump
• chump
• clump
• crump
• dump
• gump
• jump
• lump
• plump
• pump
• rump
• slump

Kids Definition

hump

1 of 2 noun

ˈhəmp 

1

: a rounded bulge or lump (as on the back of a camel)

2

: a difficult part (as of a task)

humped

ˈhəm(p)t

adjective

hump

2 of 2 verb

1

: to move or work energetically : hustle

2

: to make hump-shaped : hunch

Medical Definition

hump

noun

ˈhəmp 

: a rounded protuberance

especially : humpback