trumpet

1 of 2

noun

trum·​pet ˈtrəm-pət How to pronounce trumpet (audio)
Synonyms of trumpetnext
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 2½ 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)
trumpetlike adjective

Illustration of trumpet

Illustration of trumpet
  • trumpet 1a

trumpet

2 of 2

verb

trumpeted; trumpeting; trumpets

intransitive verb

1
: to blow a trumpet
2
: to make a sound suggestive of that of a trumpet

transitive verb

: to sound or proclaim on or as if on a trumpet
trumpet the news

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
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Noun
While all have five petals and are shaped like trumpets, the size and color depend on your specific species. Claudia Guthrie, The Spruce, 9 Apr. 2026 New Orleans is one of those rare cities that announces itself immediately — through the smell of powdered sugar drifting from a café, the sound of a trumpet warming up on a street corner, the sight of iron-lace balconies draped over cobblestone sidewalks. Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
On Wednesday, April 15, Trump will attend a roundtable discussion on Capitol Hill with members of the House Ways and Means Committee to trumpet a package of bills intended to advance her foster care initiative. Jay Stahl, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 Since the start of the war with Iran, figures within MAGA have trumpeted Israel as a scapegoat. Jennifer Lutz, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trumpet

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trumpet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trumpet. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

trumpet

1 of 2 noun
trum·​pet ˈtrəm-pət How to pronounce trumpet (audio)
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 verb
1
: to blow a trumpet
2
: to make a sound like that of a trumpet

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