trump

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
a
: a card of a suit any of whose cards will win over a card that is not of this suit

called also trump card

b
: the suit whose cards are trumps for a particular hand
often used in plural
2
: a decisive overriding factor or final resource

called also trump card

3
: a dependable and exemplary person

trump

2 of 3

verb

trumped; trumping; trumps

transitive verb

1
: to get the better of : override
where ambition invariably trumps loyaltyMichael Kramer
2
: to play a trump on (a card or trick) when another suit was led

intransitive verb

: to play a trump when another suit was led

trump

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
a
b
chiefly Scotland : jew's harp
2
: a sound of or as if of trumpeting
the trump of doom

Examples of trump in a Sentence

Verb She trumped my ace to win the trick. Their offer for the house was trumped by a higher bid. The need for blood donors trumps all other concerns.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
West led a trump, and Cy drew trumps and cashed five hearts, pitching his low clubs. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 But submarines remain Russia’s trump card in naval combat; Moscow need only choose to play it. Mark Cancian, Foreign Affairs, 8 Feb. 2024 Hobbyists are evolving into professionals, while authenticity trumps perfection. Katie Salcius, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 West should duck the first trump and win the second. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 Every deal is different, but one sign that an end play may be available is having extra trumps. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2024 Here, ramen is the go-to skier’s lunch, hot tubs are replaced by the traditional outdoor hot springs known as onsen, and karaoke bars trump nightclubs. Gabriella Le Breton, Robb Report, 27 Jan. 2024 But Trump's real, uh, trump card is his sheer volume of endorsements. Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 17 Jan. 2024 Louie then drew trumps and let the queen of diamonds ride, and East produced the king and cashed his high spades. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2024
Verb
However, the mobile gambling experience trumps the desktop version. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Retro Sneakers Each season, there seems to be one bona fide sneaker star that trumps all others—think the Adidas Samba or the Wales Bonner. Laura Jackson, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2024 If your budget allows, treatments that can only be performed by a dermatologist will trump just about any over-the-counter option. Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024 No one who understands physics can turn around and accept a claim that Marxism-Leninism is special wisdom that trumps everything else. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 29 Feb. 2024 As Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, has said, the learn-it-all will always trump the know-it-all. Robin Elledge, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 The same as always: Kid’s well-being trumps your feelings. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2024 In the city, Verizon trumps the other major cell carriers, T-Mobile and AT&T, for network reliability, network accessibility, call performance and overall performance. Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2024 This is Florida, where movies have long trumped reality. Fred Grimm, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trump.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

alteration of triumph entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English trompe, from Anglo-French trumpe, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German trumba, trumpa trumpet

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1586, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near trump

Cite this Entry

“Trump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trump. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

trump

1 of 2 noun
1
: a card of a suit any of whose cards will win over a card that is of a different suit
also : the suit whose cards are trumps for a particular hand
often used in plural
2

trump

2 of 2 verb
1
: to take with a trump
trump another player's card
2
: to play a trump
3
: to get the better of : outdo
trumped her competitors

Biographical Definition

Trump

biographical name

Donald J(ohn) 1946–     American businessman and politician; 45th president of the U.S. (2017–21)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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