plumped; plumping; plumps
: to make plump
—often used with up
plump up a pillow
: to become plump
plumped; plumping; plumps
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
plumping for the incumbent
1
: to drop, cast, or place suddenly or heavily
2
: to give support and favorable publicity to
: a sudden plunge, fall, or blow
also
: the sound made by a plump
1
: with a sudden or heavy drop
2
a
: straight down
b
: straight ahead
3
: without qualification : directly
plump out of luck
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
Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026
Discover new ways to use these plump, sweet peaches in desserts, appetizers, and cocktails.
—Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 9 June 2026
Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 7 June 2026
Other signs of ripeness include a dusty coating that gives the skin a dull appearance, a tough rind that's hard to pierce with your fingernail, and the blossom end of the fruit plumps up.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 May 2026
Christina Butan, InStyle, 8 June 2026
Peptides are the building blocks of collagen, helping to renew and firm your skin, while ceramides restore your skin barrier, and the hyaluronic acid plumps and hydrates.
—Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for plump
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Adjective
The kernels should feel plump and firm, and the tassel—the cluster of silks at the top of the ear—should be white or yellow.
—Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026
Discover new ways to use these plump, sweet peaches in desserts, appetizers, and cocktails.
—Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 9 June 2026
Verb
Cetaphil’s formula addresses crepey skin by adding hydration, which helps to plump and smooth fine lines, while also working to rejuvenate skin cells and diminish signs of crepiness over time.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 7 June 2026
Other signs of ripeness include a dusty coating that gives the skin a dull appearance, a tough rind that's hard to pierce with your fingernail, and the blossom end of the fruit plumps up.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 May 2026
Noun
The tinted serum plumps and hydrates while leaving behind a subtle, natural-looking bronze.
—Christina Butan, InStyle, 8 June 2026
Peptides are the building blocks of collagen, helping to renew and firm your skin, while ceramides restore your skin barrier, and the hyaluronic acid plumps and hydrates.
—Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for plump
Cite this Entry
“Plump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plump. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plump
1 of 5 verb1
: 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 adverb1
: 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
Etymology
Verb
Middle English plumpen "to drop or sink heavily"
Verb
plump (adjective) "rounded, chubby," from Middle English plump "dull, blunt"
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