Illustration of trumpet
- trumpet 1a
1
a
: a wind instrument consisting of a conical or cylindrical usually metal tube, a cup-shaped mouthpiece, and a flared bell
specifically
: a valved brass instrument having a cylindrical tube with two turns and a usual range from F sharp below middle C upward for 2¹/₂ octaves
b
: a musical instrument (such as a cornet) resembling a trumpet
2
: a trumpet player
3
: something that resembles a trumpet or its tonal quality: such as
a
: a funnel-shaped instrument (such as a megaphone) for collecting, directing, or intensifying sound
b(1)
: a stentorian voice
(2)
: a penetrating cry (as of an elephant)
trumpeted; trumpeting; trumpets
: to sound or proclaim on or as if on a trumpet
trumpet the news
Synonyms
Examples of trumpet in a Sentence
Noun
the trumpet of a flower
Verb
He likes to trumpet his own achievements.
The law was trumpeted as a solution to everything.
Recent Examples on the Web
Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2023
Onstage, Sakamoto freestyled on a toy trumpet, while Paik spoke, landing something between standup comedy and performance art.
—Sasha Frere-Jones, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2023
The Daily News reported that a makeshift memorial of six white prayer candles and a miniature trumpet was left in front of the high school to pay tribute to the victims on Friday.
—Brian Brant, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2023
At the center was a man who played an Andean trumpet of war called a pututu.
—Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023
In 2021, Hamas again sounded the trumpets over its supposedly game-changing drone program.
—WIRED, 21 Oct. 2023
The subgenre rooted in traditional Mexican instrumentation—trumpets, tubas, twelve-string guitars—sounds completely different than anything in rap, but the flexing and raw, melancholic melodies will resonate.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2023
The trumpets at the beginning of the song add nice texture, too.—S.C.
13.
—TIME, 25 Oct. 2023
The jazz musician will blow his beloved trumpet again in A Wonderful World, A New Musical about the Life and Loves of Louis Armstrong, now playing in New Orleans's Saenger Theatre through Oct. 8.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 3 Oct. 2023
Karishma Mehrotra, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
Cameron and Republicans, meanwhile, have aired TV ads trumpeting Donald Trump’s endorsement of Cameron, knocking Beshear on education and his handling of Covid, and tying the Democratic governor to President Joe Biden.
—Mark Murray, NBC News, 26 Oct. 2023
Perhaps just as important but less trumpeted is how the fort was renamed – guided by Washington but carried out by locals.
—Noah Robertson, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug. 2023
President Joe Biden has been pounding the pavement to trumpet $5 billion in new investments to juice rural economies, hoping that voters will reward him and fellow Democrats for infrastructure projects ramping up across the country.
—Christine Romans, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2023
Similarly, in recognition of the suffering and anguish felt by many of their own employees, some companies are understandably prioritizing internal staff e-mail blasts and meetings with employee groups over news releases publicly trumpeting their solidarity.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2023
Who doesn’t want to trumpet the fun of Austin Reaves, the maturity of D’Angelo Russell, the shooting of Rui Hachimura, the smarts of Gabe Vincent, the toughness of Taurean Prince, the promise of Max Christie, the potential of Christian Wood and … ?
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2023
Since the Apple Watch was unveiled in 2014, it has been trumpeted not only as a high tech fashion accessory, but also as a way for people to track their own health and fitness.
—Mario Aguilar, STAT, 24 Oct. 2023
The social networking companies that once trumpeted efforts to combat misinformation are showing signs of waning interest.
—Stuart A. Thompson, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2023
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Noun
From overhead speakers, a trumpet solo echoed across the platform.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2023
Onstage, Sakamoto freestyled on a toy trumpet, while Paik spoke, landing something between standup comedy and performance art.
—Sasha Frere-Jones, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2023
The Daily News reported that a makeshift memorial of six white prayer candles and a miniature trumpet was left in front of the high school to pay tribute to the victims on Friday.
—Brian Brant, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2023
At the center was a man who played an Andean trumpet of war called a pututu.
—Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023
In 2021, Hamas again sounded the trumpets over its supposedly game-changing drone program.
—WIRED, 21 Oct. 2023
The subgenre rooted in traditional Mexican instrumentation—trumpets, tubas, twelve-string guitars—sounds completely different than anything in rap, but the flexing and raw, melancholic melodies will resonate.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2023
The trumpets at the beginning of the song add nice texture, too.—S.C.
13.
—TIME, 25 Oct. 2023
The jazz musician will blow his beloved trumpet again in A Wonderful World, A New Musical about the Life and Loves of Louis Armstrong, now playing in New Orleans's Saenger Theatre through Oct. 8.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 3 Oct. 2023
Verb
India no longer keeps its friendship with Israel out of view and instead trumpets Israeli-style aspirations for muscular foreign and security policies.
—Karishma Mehrotra, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
Cameron and Republicans, meanwhile, have aired TV ads trumpeting Donald Trump’s endorsement of Cameron, knocking Beshear on education and his handling of Covid, and tying the Democratic governor to President Joe Biden.
—Mark Murray, NBC News, 26 Oct. 2023
Perhaps just as important but less trumpeted is how the fort was renamed – guided by Washington but carried out by locals.
—Noah Robertson, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug. 2023
President Joe Biden has been pounding the pavement to trumpet $5 billion in new investments to juice rural economies, hoping that voters will reward him and fellow Democrats for infrastructure projects ramping up across the country.
—Christine Romans, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2023
Similarly, in recognition of the suffering and anguish felt by many of their own employees, some companies are understandably prioritizing internal staff e-mail blasts and meetings with employee groups over news releases publicly trumpeting their solidarity.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2023
Who doesn’t want to trumpet the fun of Austin Reaves, the maturity of D’Angelo Russell, the shooting of Rui Hachimura, the smarts of Gabe Vincent, the toughness of Taurean Prince, the promise of Max Christie, the potential of Christian Wood and … ?
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2023
Since the Apple Watch was unveiled in 2014, it has been trumpeted not only as a high tech fashion accessory, but also as a way for people to track their own health and fitness.
—Mario Aguilar, STAT, 24 Oct. 2023
The social networking companies that once trumpeted efforts to combat misinformation are showing signs of waning interest.
—Stuart A. Thompson, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trumpet.' 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
Middle English trompette, from Anglo-French, from trumpe trump
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1530, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of trumpet was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing trumpet
Articles Related to trumpet
Dictionary Entries Near trumpet
Cite this Entry
“Trumpet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trumpet. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
trumpet
1 of 2 noun
trum·pet
ˈtrəm-pət 
1
: a wind instrument consisting of a long cylindrical metal tube commonly once or twice curved and ending in a bell
2
: something shaped like a trumpet
3
: a sound like that of a trumpet
trumpet
2 of 2 verb1
: to blow a trumpet
2
: to make a sound like that of a trumpet
More from Merriam-Webster on trumpet
Nglish: Translation of trumpet for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of trumpet for Arabic Speakers
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