sump pump

noun

: a pump (as in a basement) to remove accumulations of liquid (such as water) from a sump pit

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The hum that comes up from our garage means the sump pump is working. Kevin Fisher-paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Mar. 2023 Frequently Asked Questions For some homeowners, a sump pump is better than a French drain. Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2023 The house also has a brand-new primary bathroom, refinished hardwood floors throughout, upgraded lighting, a waterproofed basement with a sump pump, two new furnaces and a finished garage rooftop with a pergola. Bob Goldsborough, chicagotribune.com, 9 Dec. 2021 The drain then redirects the water out of the home via an exterior drain or sump pump. Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2022 At the bottom of the steps is a drain that runs under the finished section of the basement and into a sump pump in the unfinished section. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 16 May 2022 One consequence is that Delta farmers, in addition to siphoning irrigation water from the channels that surround their islands, have to pump water out—a chore familiar to anyone who has used a sump pump to keep a basement dry. David Owen, The New Yorker, 11 May 2022 Their sump pump stopped working, and water poured in. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Apr. 2022 Install a sump pump to clear water in the event of flooding or heavy rain. Dan Diclerico, Good Housekeeping, 3 Feb. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sump 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

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sump pump was in 1875

Dictionary Entries Near sump pump

Cite this Entry

“Sump pump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sump%20pump. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

More from Merriam-Webster on sump pump

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