bumps; bumped; bumping
1
a
: to hit (something, such as part of your body) against an object in a sudden and forceful way
I have a bruise from where I bumped my head.
—often + against or onHe bumped his head against the shelf.
I fell and bumped my elbow on the floor.
b
: to hit and move (someone or something)
Be careful not to bump the vase.
You nearly bumped me off/over the edge!
The jolt bumped him right out of his seat.
He accidentally bumped [=knocked] my drink out of my hand when he passed by.
2
: to move into or against (someone or something) in a sudden and forceful way
They bumped into us from behind.
The boat bumped against the pier.
—often + upThe boat bumped up against the pier.
—sometimes used figurativelyThey're bumping (up) against the limits of technology.
3
a
: to move (someone or something) to a different level, position, rank, etc.
The TV show will be bumped to a new time.
Increasing fuel costs are bumping the company's prices higher.
b
: to remove (someone or something) from a group or position
The loss bumped us out of first place.
—often used as (be) bumpedThe flight was overbooked, and I was the first to be bumped. [=my seat on the flight was the first seat to be given to someone else]
4
always followed by an adverb or preposition
: to move in an up and down motion over a rough surface
The truck bumped along the dirt road.
plural bumps
1
: an area of skin that is raised because it was hit, injured, etc.
He wound up with a few minor bumps and bruises from the fight.
Feel this bump [=lump] on the back of my head.
2
: a small raised area on a surface
The car hit a bump (in the road).
—often used figuratively in U.S. EnglishHis career hit a bump in the road. = His career hit a road bump. [=something happened that slowed the progress of his career]
When you're doing something for the first time, you're bound to hit a few bumps along the way.
3
: an act of something hitting against something else
Did you feel/hear a bump?
The airplane landed with a bump. [=the airplane went up again and then down when it hit the ground]
4
: the act of pushing the hips forward in a sexual way
a dancer doing the bump and grind
Cite this Entry
“Bump.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/bump. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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