tramp

play

verb \ ˈtramp , senses vi 1 & vt 1 are also ˈträmp , ˈtrȯmp \

Definition of tramp

intransitive verb

1 :to walk, tread, or step especially heavily

tramped loudly on the stairs

2 a :to travel about on foot :hike

b :to journey as a tramp

transitive verb

1 :to tread on forcibly and repeatedly

2 :to travel or wander through or over on foot

have tramped all the woods on their property

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tramper

noun

See tramp defined for English-language learners

See tramp defined for kids

Examples of tramp in a Sentence

We spent the day tramping through the woods.
He tramped the streets looking for his dog.

Recent Examples of tramp from the Web

Hamburg, Germany (CNN)An eclectic and international mix of demonstrators peacefully tramped through the streets of Hamburg on Saturday, a show of anti-capitalist muscle in earshot of the world's top leaders who were finishing up at the G20 summit.

— kara fox and joe sterling, CNN, "Protesters flood streets of Hamburg as G20 wraps up," 8 July 2017
Last year a tourist died after walking off a pedestrian boardwalk into a thermal area, a group of Canadian adventurers tramped around in the Grand Prismatic Spring, then publicized it.

— lew freedman, idahostatesman, "At Yellowstone, new safe selfie pledge will cut down on animal attacks, officials hope," 6 May 2017
In the final days before France’s presidential election on Sunday, Emmanuel Macron was tramping through the snow high in the mountains near the Spanish border for a critical campaign stop near this tiny village where his grandparents once lived.

— alissa j. rubin, New York Times, "Macron Wants to Change France. But Will Voters Elect an Unknown?," 19 Apr. 2017
A group of young boys dressed in old-fashioned regimental uniforms tramped up a staircase and strode purposefully toward him, wooden rifles slung over their shoulders.

— corinna da fonseca-wollheim, New York Times, "A Legend of the International Culture Scene Makes His Mark on New York," 13 Oct. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tramp.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of tramp

Middle English; akin to Middle Low German trampen to stamp

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

tramp Synonyms

Synonyms

barge, clomp, clump, flog [British], flounder, galumph, lump, plod, pound, scuff, scuffle, shamble, shuffle, slog, slough, stamp, stomp, stumble, stump, lumber, tromp, trudge

Antonyms

breeze, coast, glide, slide, waltz, whisk

Related Words

drag, flop, haul; blunder, careen, dodder, lurch, reel, stagger, sway, teeter, totter, waddle, weave, wobble (also wabble)

Near Antonyms

drift, float, hang, hover, poise, waft

tramp

play

noun \ ˈtramp , senses 3 & 4 are also ˈträmp , ˈtrȯmp \

Definition of tramp

1 a :vagrant 1a

b :a foot traveler

c :a woman of loose morals; specifically :prostitute

2 :a walking trip :hike

3 :the succession of sounds made by the beating of feet on a surface (such as a road, pavement, or floor)

4 :an iron plate to protect the sole of a shoe

5 :a ship not making regular trips but taking cargo when and where it offers and to any port — called also tramp steamer

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trampy

play \ˈtram-pē\ adjective

See tramp defined for English-language learners

Examples of tramp in a Sentence

a tramp through the woods
the police encouraged the tramps who were sleeping in the park to spend the bitterly cold night in the homeless shelter

Recent Examples of tramp from the Web

Wouldn't that be amazing, if Kim brought back the tramp stamp?

— charles manning, Cosmopolitan, "Kim Kardashian's Crop Top Held Together by Magic Probably," 26 July 2017
Taylor Swift is such a thirsty tramp ... good to see someone throw some salt and shade on that manizing creep see more 2 •

— gil kaufman, Billboard, "Watch Katy Perry Finally Explain Taylor Swift Beef, Sing 'Swish, Swish' & More Hits in 'Carpool Karaoke'," 23 May 2017
After receiving critical acclaim for her starring role in Adam Leon's Tramps, 20-year-old Van Patten is expected to shine as Adam Sandler's aspiring filmmaker daughter in Noah Baumbach's intergenerational tale The Meyerowitz Stories.

— rebecca ford, The Hollywood Reporter, "Cannes: 5 Breakout Stars Set to Make a Splash at This Year's Fest," 16 May 2017
Today, while the ornate 1920s library resounds with the tramp of tourists' feet, in the private former servants' quarters to the south, the sounds are of small children and the skitter of terriers' paws.

— stephen patience, ELLE Decor, "HOUSE TOUR: A Historic English Estate That Combines Traditional Elements With Fresh Accents," 6 Dec. 2016
Is making history by casting Darius worth repeating history by setting up another cast of women to be edited into wifeys and tramps?

— james poniewozik, New York Times, "‘UnREAL’ Returns on Lifetime With a Provocative Twist," 5 June 2016
To steal a line from his book: While many think that the world is full of tramps, there are still a few ladies around.

— derek blasberg, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Best Dressed: Emma Stone in Chanel Couture, Rachel Bilson in Chloé, Plus More!," 12 Aug. 2011

First Known Use of tramp

1790

tramp Synonyms

Synonyms

bindle stiff, bum, bummer, hobo, sundowner [Australian], swaggie [chiefly Australian], swagman [chiefly Australian], vagabond, vagrant

Related Words

drifter, roamer, transient; beggar, derelict, mendicant, panhandler, stiff; dodger, malingerer, shirker, slacker; gamine, ragamuffin, urchin, waif

tramp

play

adjective \ ˈtramp \

Definition of tramp

:having no fixed abode, connection, or destination

a tramp dog

First Known Use of tramp

1873

TRAMP Defined for English Language Learners

tramp

play

verb

Definition of tramp for English Language Learners

: to walk or step heavily
: to walk for a long distance or time

tramp

play

noun

Definition of tramp for English Language Learners

: a person who travels from place to place and does not have a home or much money
: a woman who has sex with many different men
: a walking trip

TRAMP Defined for Kids

tramp

play

verb \ ˈtramp \

Definition of tramp for Students

tramped; tramping

1 :to travel or wander through on foot

They tramped through the thin snow …
—Susan Cooper, The Dark is Rising

2 :to walk heavily

tramp

noun

Definition of tramp for Students

1 :a person who wanders from place to place, has no home or job, and often lives by begging or stealing

2 :the sounds made by the beat of marching feet

3 :²hike

Learn More about tramp

See words that rhyme with tramp Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tramp Spanish Central: Translation of tramp Nglish: Translation of tramp for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tramp for Arabic speakers

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tramp

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trampy

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tramp

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