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
pumped; pumping; pumps
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
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
: 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
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Clare Fisher, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023
These include a bio-inspired robotic hand, a six-legged robot with a grabber, and a pump modeled on the heart.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Nov. 2023
During a 2010 probation meeting and sentencing for missing counseling sessions related to her 2007 DUI, Lindsay Lohan wore a court-appropriate outfit of a black cowl neck, black trousers, peep-toe pumps, and a gray cardigan.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 13 Nov. 2023
The spewing and leaking of oil from its 24/7 turbines and drainage pumps (built in the 1960s) caused major damage to residents’ property in March 2023; a replacement is not expected to be in operation until the end of 2024.
—Essence, 10 Nov. 2023
One model might take four minutes to drain (count the 240 seconds to realize how long that can seem) while another might empty in 30 seconds because the drain is connected to a pump, Yavuz says.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023
Oxblood of course being the official color of autumn 2023, Fox added oxblood pumps to match her red mani and her new cherry-red hair.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2023
Once the Morena pump station is built and operational, phase one of Pure Water will reach the goal of 30 million gallons per day.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2023
Notably Insulet, which makes insulin pumps, soared in morning trading Friday after reporting revenue that beat analyst estimates while boosting its revenue growth projections for the year.
—David Wainer, WSJ, 3 Nov. 2023
Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023
The culture is part of his DNA, pumping through his veins and busting at the seams to get out.
—Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 16 Nov. 2023
The most common postmortem findings among the athletes either found no specific reason for the sudden cardiac arrest or found that idiopathic left ventricular hypertrophy (the thickening of the heart's left pumping chamber) or possible cardiomyopathy (a disease of the heart muscle) were to blame.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
In future projects, Heirloom also plans to pump carbon dioxide into underground storage wells, burying it.
—Brad Plumer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023
As humanity pumps carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, more of that gas dissolves in the ocean, which increases the acidity of the water.
—WIRED, 8 Nov. 2023
National Democratic and progressive organizations have pumped money into the races, including the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, and the States Project.
—Grace Segers, The New Republic, 5 Nov. 2023
This disrupts the heart's pumping action and stops blood flow through the body.
—Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 6 Nov. 2023
The heart must work harder to pump the blood, which can result in heart disease.
—Sherry Christiansen Updated, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2023
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Noun
Transformers star Fox teamed a bright red bob hairstyle with a plunging, off-the-shoulder white mini-dress and pointed pumps for the gala — and was joined by fiancé, Machine Gun Kelly.
—Clare Fisher, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023
These include a bio-inspired robotic hand, a six-legged robot with a grabber, and a pump modeled on the heart.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Nov. 2023
During a 2010 probation meeting and sentencing for missing counseling sessions related to her 2007 DUI, Lindsay Lohan wore a court-appropriate outfit of a black cowl neck, black trousers, peep-toe pumps, and a gray cardigan.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 13 Nov. 2023
The spewing and leaking of oil from its 24/7 turbines and drainage pumps (built in the 1960s) caused major damage to residents’ property in March 2023; a replacement is not expected to be in operation until the end of 2024.
—Essence, 10 Nov. 2023
One model might take four minutes to drain (count the 240 seconds to realize how long that can seem) while another might empty in 30 seconds because the drain is connected to a pump, Yavuz says.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023
Oxblood of course being the official color of autumn 2023, Fox added oxblood pumps to match her red mani and her new cherry-red hair.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2023
Once the Morena pump station is built and operational, phase one of Pure Water will reach the goal of 30 million gallons per day.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2023
Notably Insulet, which makes insulin pumps, soared in morning trading Friday after reporting revenue that beat analyst estimates while boosting its revenue growth projections for the year.
—David Wainer, WSJ, 3 Nov. 2023
Verb
He was pumped to do it and had a really special presence on set.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023
The culture is part of his DNA, pumping through his veins and busting at the seams to get out.
—Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 16 Nov. 2023
The most common postmortem findings among the athletes either found no specific reason for the sudden cardiac arrest or found that idiopathic left ventricular hypertrophy (the thickening of the heart's left pumping chamber) or possible cardiomyopathy (a disease of the heart muscle) were to blame.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
In future projects, Heirloom also plans to pump carbon dioxide into underground storage wells, burying it.
—Brad Plumer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023
As humanity pumps carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, more of that gas dissolves in the ocean, which increases the acidity of the water.
—WIRED, 8 Nov. 2023
National Democratic and progressive organizations have pumped money into the races, including the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, and the States Project.
—Grace Segers, The New Republic, 5 Nov. 2023
This disrupts the heart's pumping action and stops blood flow through the body.
—Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 6 Nov. 2023
The heart must work harder to pump the blood, which can result in heart disease.
—Sherry Christiansen Updated, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pump.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of pump was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing pump
Articles Related to pump
Dictionary Entries Near pump
Cite this Entry
“Pump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pump. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
pump
1 of 3 noun
: a device that raises, transfers, delivers, or compresses fluids especially by suction or pressure or both
pump
2 of 3 verb1
: 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 noun1
: 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
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
More from Merriam-Webster on pump
Nglish: Translation of pump for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of pump for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pump
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