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

—often used with up

plump up a pillow

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

plumping for the incumbent

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 of plump

Adjective

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

Verb (2)

• plop

Noun (1)

• blow
• pound
• thump
• slap
• punch
• thud
• hit
• swipe
• whack
• stroke
• poke
• knock
• 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

Circling above, a bird glimpses what at first glance looks like a plump spider climbing on the rocks. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

The skins cling like wet T-shirts to the filling beneath, with each plump bundle nearly bursting with big, discernible chunks of shrimp and ground pork. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Verb

The meat is firm and plump with its own poaching liquid, fragrant with ginger and garlic. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Eight Saints Up the Anti Night Cream moisturizes and plumps skin while smoothing wrinkles and fine lines on the face, neck, and décolleté area. — Melony Forcier, InStyle, 10 Sep. 2026

Noun

This formula pairs hyaluronic acid with a non-sticky finish to give a comfortable plump and 24-hour hydration. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026

Loaded with zucchini, sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, and plump shrimp, this recipe builds layers of flavor in a single skillet. — Torie Cox, Southern Living, 29 July 2026

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)

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1596, 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"