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

see also:

pump iron

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

Synonyms of pump

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

These mini bottles can fasten right onto the top of your favorite perfume nozzles for easy filling—they’re ready for travel in a few short pumps! — Hayley Domin, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2026

High gas prices from the Iran-Israel War also may spur some drivers to ditch their cars for a while and save cash by avoiding the gas pump. — Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026

Verb

The teen was using an apparatus called a third lung, which floats on the water's surface and pumps air to divers through a breathing hose, the affidavit said. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Moreover, this makes the heat pump a green technology, slashing greenhouse gas emissions from both energy production and chemical refrigerants. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026

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