pump up

verb

pumped up; pumping up; pumps up

transitive verb

1
a
: to fill with enthusiasm or excitement
b
: to fill with or as if with air : inflate
2

Examples of pump up in a Sentence

the crowd was pumped up by the band's rocking performance that pop diva is trying to pump up album sales with an extended publicity tour
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Soundcore has pumped up the bass on these headphones, giving you a more immersive experience. Christopher Murray May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2025 The Dime 3 earbuds are an inexpensive option for those who like to pump up the bass in their music, but don't necessarily have the wallet for earbuds like the Beats Fit Pro. PC Magazine, 16 Sep. 2025 Paint Beadboard The subtle textural pattern of beadboard gets pumped up a notch when painted a color with a big personality, like this turquoise pulled from the kitchen floor for the adjacent powder room. Kelly Ryan Kegans, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025 The divine-smelling duo pumps up thin strands like any volumizing formula, but then uses botanical extracts (pea sprout) and Capixyl (made from a biomimetic peptide and red clover extract) to improve scalp health. Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pump up

Word History

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of pump up was in 1791

Cite this Entry

“Pump up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pump%20up. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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