plump

1 of 6

adjective

ˈpləmp 

1

: having a full rounded usually pleasing form

a plump woman

2

: ample, abundant

plumpish

ˈpləm-pish 

adjective

plump

2 of 6

verb (1)

plumped; plumping; plumps

transitive verb

: to make plump

intransitive verb

: to become plump

plump

3 of 6

verb (2)

plumped; plumping; plumps

intransitive verb

1

: to drop, sink, or come in contact suddenly or heavily

plumped down in the chair

2

: to favor or decide in favor of someone or something strongly or emphatically

—used with for

transitive verb

1

: to drop, cast, or place suddenly or heavily

2

: to give support and favorable publicity to

plump

4 of 6

noun (1)

: a sudden plunge, fall, or blow

also : the sound made by a plump

plump

5 of 6

adverb

1

: with a sudden or heavy drop

2

a

: straight down

b

: straight ahead

3

: without qualification : directly

plump out of luck

plump

6 of 6

noun (2)

chiefly dialectal

: group, flock

a plump of ducks rose at the same time

—H. D. Thoreau

Synonyms

Adjective

• fat
• round
• full
• chubby
• pudgy
• rotund
• corpulent
• fleshy
• stout
• thick

Verb (2)

• plop

Noun (1)

• blow
• thump
• slap
• pound
• punch
• thud
• hit
• whack
• swipe
• stroke
• knock
• poke
• lick
• smack
• bang
• spank
• beat
• slam

Adverb

• straight
• right

Examples of plump in a Sentence

Adjective

His aunt pinched his plump cheeks.

she's been plump all her life, and her sister has always been skinny

Verb (2)

plumped herself down on the couch and turned on the TV

Noun (1)

angrily gave a plump of his fist against the door

Adverb

there was a squirrel on the sidewalk plump in front of us

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

And this peptide serum delivers, with 10 different peptides (which serve to smooth lines and plump lax skin) housed in yet another copper peptide that delivers them deep into the skin. —Deanna Pai, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2025

My canvas didn’t sport a greasy look, and felt light as a feather with a slightly plump appearance. —Tatayana Yomary, Essence, 21 Oct. 2025

Verb

It not only moisturizes, but also lifts, firms, and plumps the skin simultaneously. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025

Post application, my complexion is luminous, plumped and hydrated. —Ellie Davis, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2025

Noun

Hyaluronic acid plumps, colloidal oatmeal soothes, and tea extracts provide skin with antioxidants. —Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 30 Sep. 2025

The little tube directing pure oxygen to my face did, as promised, make my complexion feel extra plump and glowy, too. —Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb (1)

Middle English, dull, blunt, from Middle Dutch plomp

Verb (2)

Middle English

Noun (2)

Middle English plumpe

First Known Use

Adjective

1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1533, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing plump

• plump for

Rhymes for plump

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

Kids Definition

plump

1 of 5 verb

ˈpləmp 

1

: to drop, sink, or come in contact suddenly or heavily

plumped down in the chair

2

: to support someone or something strongly

—used with for

plump for a candidate

plump

2 of 5 noun

: a sudden plunge, fall, or blow

plump

3 of 5 adverb

1

: with a sudden or heavy drop

2

: directly entry 1 sense 1

ran plump into the wall

plump

4 of 5 verb

: to make or become plump

plump up a pillow

plump

5 of 5 adjective

: having a full rounded form : chubby

plumpness noun

Etymology

Verb

Middle English plumpen "to drop or sink heavily"

Verb

plump (adjective) "rounded, chubby," from Middle English plump "dull, blunt"