thumps; thumped; thumping
1
: to hit or beat something or someone and make a loud, deep sound
Someone was thumping [=pounding] loudly on the door.
The boat thumped against the side of the pier.
gorillas thumping their chests
I thumped [=pounded] him on the back.
I was so angry I wanted to thump him (one).
2
: to beat forcefully
I could feel my heart thumping [=pounding] inside my chest.
3
always followed by an adverb or preposition
: to walk or run with loud, heavy steps
She thumped [=clumped] up the stairs.
plural thumps
1
: a loud, deep sound made especially when a heavy object hits something
The ball landed with a thump.
2
: an act of hitting someone or something
I gave him a (good) thump on the back. [=I thumped him on the back]
Cite this Entry
“Thump.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/thump. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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