speed bump

noun

: a low raised ridge across a roadway (as in a parking lot) to limit vehicle speed

Examples of speed bump in a Sentence

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.
But the fruit hit some speed bumps on its path to ubiquity. Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025 Especially speed bumps, expansion joints, and washboard-like surfaces, which shows that Aston Martin probably spent a lot of time perfecting the dampers’ compression tuning. Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025 Their attempt at recreating said movie magic hits some speed bumps. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 21 May 2025 Those choices will likely dictate whether the ultimate story of this recent two-season stretch is more of a speed bump on the road to further success or a pothole that sent them careening off the highway. John Hollinger, New York Times, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for speed bump

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of speed bump was in 1972

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Speed bump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speed%20bump. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

speed bump

noun
: a low raised ridge across a roadway (as in a parking lot) to limit vehicle speed

More from Merriam-Webster on speed bump

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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