tramp

1 of 3

verb

ˈtramp How to pronounce tramp (audio)
intransitive sense 1 & transitive sense 1 are also
ˈträmp How to pronounce tramp (audio) ˈtrȯmp How to pronounce tramp (audio)
tramped; tramping; tramps

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
tramper noun

tramp

2 of 3

noun

ˈtramp How to pronounce tramp (audio)
senses 3 & 4 are also
ˈträmp How to pronounce tramp (audio) ˈtrȯmp How to pronounce tramp (audio)
plural tramps
1
b
: a person who travels on foot
2
a
disparaging : a woman who has multiple sexual partners : a woman who is promiscuous
b
disparaging : a woman who engages in sex acts and especially sexual intercourse in exchange for pay : a woman who is a sex worker
3
: a walking trip : hike
4
: the succession of sounds made by the beating of feet on a surface (such as a road, pavement, or floor)
5
: an iron plate to protect the sole of a shoe
6
: a ship not making regular trips but taking cargo when and where it offers and to any port

called also tramp steamer

trampy adjective

tramp

3 of 3

adjective

: having no fixed abode, connection, or destination
a tramp dog

Examples of tramp in a Sentence

Verb We spent the day tramping through the woods. He tramped the streets looking for his dog. Noun 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 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.
Verb
The three of us tramped through stands of alder and shafts of sunlight. Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024 At MacDowell, the group tramped along a forested path to Wilder’s stone cabin. Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2024
Noun
Daniels’ first foray into the horror genre shot to No. 1 on Netflix after dropping Aug. 30, which may have a little bit — or a whole lot — to do with Close, who clearly had the time of her life playing a tramp named Alberta. Lynette Rice, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2024 On March 7, 1913, rescuers were desperately searching the same waters for survivors of the Alum Cine, a British tramp steamer, that exploded while being loaded with 350 tons of dynamite (nine boxcars’ worth) that was bound to Panama for construction of the canal that was underway. Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Probably not another tramp stamp but who knows. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 22 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for tramp 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English; akin to Middle Low German trampen to stamp

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Adjective

1873, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tramp was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near tramp

Cite this Entry

“Tramp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tramp. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

tramp

1 of 2 verb
ˈtramp How to pronounce tramp (audio)
 senses 1 & 2 are also  ˈträmp,
ˈtrȯmp
1
: to walk heavily
2
: to tread on forcibly and repeatedly
3
: to travel or wander through on foot
tramp the streets
tramper noun

tramp

2 of 2 noun
ˈtramp How to pronounce tramp (audio)
 sense 3 is also  ˈträmp,
ˈtrȯmp
1
: a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living
2
: a walking trip : hike
3
: the sound made by many marching feet
4
: a ship not making regular trips but taking cargo to any port

called also tramp steamer

More from Merriam-Webster on tramp

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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