pump

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈpəmp 

1

: a device that raises, transfers, delivers, or compresses fluids or that attenuates gases especially by suction or pressure or both

2

: heart

3

: an act or the process of pumping

4

: an energy source (such as light) for pumping atoms or molecules

5

: a biological mechanism by which atoms, ions, or molecules are transported across cell membranes compare sodium pump

pump

2 of 3

verb

pumped; pumping; pumps

intransitive verb

1

: to work a pump : raise or move a fluid with a pump

2

: to exert oneself to pump or as if to pump something

3

: to move in a manner that resembles the action of a pump handle

transitive verb

1

a

: to raise (something, such as water) with a pump

b

: to draw fluid from with a pump

2

: to pour forth, deliver, or draw with or as if with a pump

pumped money into the economy

pump new life into the classroom

3

a

: to question persistently

pumped him for the information

b

: to elicit by persistent questioning

4

a

: to operate by manipulating a lever

b

: to manipulate as if operating a pump handle

pumped my hand warmly

c

: to cause to move with an action resembling that of a pump handle

a runner pumping her arms

5

: to transport (something, such as ions) against a concentration gradient by the expenditure of energy

6

a

: to excite (atoms or molecules) especially so as to cause emission of coherent monochromatic electromagnetic radiation (as in a laser)

b

: to energize (something, such as a laser) by pumping

pump

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a shoe that grips the foot chiefly at the toe and heel

especially : a close-fitting woman's dress shoe with a moderate to high heel

Phrases

pump iron

: to lift weights

Synonyms

Verb

• bob
• shake
• jerk

Examples of pump in a Sentence

Verb

He pumped the water up from the bottom of the boat.

The machine suddenly stopped pumping.

We pumped the boat dry.

We had to pump the basement out.

Your heart pumps blood all over your body.

I could feel the blood pumping through my veins.

Blood pumped out of the cut.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Her footwear choices often fall into a few repeat categories: black pumps, sleek mules and barely-there sandals. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 22 June 2025

Firefighters received powerful water pumps; emergency responders received state-of-the-art tools for pulling survivors from rubble. —Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 20 June 2025

Verb

The latest addition the InMotion's range will certainly get the adrenaline pumping with a top speed of 43.5 mph (70 km/h). —Paul Ridden june 24, New Atlas, 24 June 2025

Foreigners have responded by pumping money into America and now own 18% of the U.S. stock market, according to Apollo chief economist Torsten Sløk. —Greg McKenna, Fortune, 24 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English pumpe, pompe; akin to Middle Low German pumpe pump, Middle Dutch pompe

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1508, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1555, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pump

• air pump
• at the pump
• fist pump
• force pump
• heat pump
• parish-pump
• peristaltic pump
• prime the pump
• proton pump inhibitor
• pump fake
• pump iron
• pump out
• pump priming
• pump (someone or something) full of (something)
• pump up
• sodium pump
• stirrup pump
• suction pump
• sump pump
• vacuum pump

Rhymes for pump

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

Kids Definition

pump

1 of 3 noun

ˈpəmp 

: a device that raises, transfers, delivers, or compresses fluids especially by suction or pressure or both

pump

2 of 3 verb

1

: to raise, transfer, or compress by means of a pump

pump up water

2

: to free (as from water or air) by the use of a pump

pump a boat dry

3

: to fill by using a pump

pump up a tire

4

: to draw, force, or drive onward in the manner of a pump

the heart pumps blood into the arteries

5

: to move up and down like a pump handle

pump the hand of a friend

6

a

: to question again and again to find out something

b

: to draw out by such questioning

pumper noun

pump

3 of 3 noun

: a low shoe gripping the foot chiefly at the toe and heel

Medical Definition

pump

1 of 2 noun

ˈpəmp 

1

: a device that raises, transfers, or compresses fluids or that attenuates gases especially by suction or pressure or both

2

: heart

3

: an act or the process of pumping

4

: an energy source (as light) for pumping atoms or molecules

5

: a mechanism by which atoms, ions, or molecules are transported across cell membranes see proton pump, sodium pump

pump

2 of 2 intransitive verb

: to work a pump : raise or move a fluid with a pump

transitive verb

1

: to raise (as water) with a pump

2

: to draw fluid from with a pump

3

: to transport (as ions) against a concentration gradient by the expenditure of energy

4

a

: to excite (as atoms or molecules) especially so as to cause emission of coherent monochromatic electromagnetic radiation (as in a laser)

b

: to energize (as a laser) by pumping