bump 1 of 2

noun

ˈbəmp How to pronounce bump (audio)
Definition of bumpnext
1
as in swelling
a small rounded mass of swollen tissue that's a nasty bump on your arm where you hit the table

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in demotion
the act or an instance of bringing to a lower grade or rank the bump was punishment for insubordination

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3
as in collision
a forceful coming together of two things I felt the bump of the other car, but there was no damage to either vehicle

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bump

2 of 2

verb

as in to bang
to come into usually forceful contact with something that police officer bumped into me and should have apologized

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bump
Noun
While AirPods released in the past 10 years have received a 0/10 rating from iFixit, the AirPods 5 released earlier this month got a meager bump to 2/10. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026 This means that working people are effectively treading water between income bumps and rising prices. — Sheldon H. Jacobson, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
The sky was overcast but improving conditions on Friday and the draw of the weekend were likely to bump those numbers up considerably. — Eric D. Lawrence, Freep.com, 19 Sep. 2026 This clamshell pack from Mystery Ranch has durable materials, solid stitching, and reinforced seams that help keep out dust from bumping around in a Land Cruiser. — Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bump
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bump
  1. swelling
  2. demotion
  3. collision
  4. bang
  5. lump
  6. firing
  7. thump
  8. collide
Noun
  • This swelling warps the battery’s internal structure and accelerates degradation, making large-format cells unsafe and short-lived.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Experts recommend seeing a doctor promptly for any lump, swelling, pain or change in a testicle.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of swelling
Noun
  • McCoy’s lawsuit alleges that her demotion was in violation of Missouri’s whistleblower statute, which allows public employees to sue for unlawful retaliation after reporting violations of law.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The outcome of the investigation, Balon said, resulted in the officer receiving a demotion in rank, an unpaid suspension, an indefinite suspension from the use of Flock and remedial ethics training.
    — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of demotion
Noun
  • Thomas defenders maintained that slow-motion replays and freeze frames made an accidental collision appear deliberate.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • According to the suit, the issues led to at least one collision and two train breakdowns that stranded hundreds of travelers in the heat.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of collision
Verb
  • The autistic girl had stopped hurting herself by banging her head on the floor when she was frustrated.
    — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Officers were responding to a house sitter who discovered the damage while checking on loud banging in the home’s rear, police said.
    — Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of bang
Noun
  • Experts recommend seeing a doctor promptly for any lump, swelling, pain or change in a testicle.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Martinez told legislators at a hearing this year how his wife had found a lump in her breast and asked for an appointment with her longtime caregiver at Kaiser to examine it.
    — Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of lump
Noun
  • Director Kash Patel says the report aims to promote accountability and rebuild public trust; critics say his investigations and firings have politicized the bureau and further undermined confidence.
    — Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The firing came after local station KGW unearthed tweets from Bell's account written between 2012 and 2014.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of firing
Noun
  • The brutalist thump of drummer Moe Tucker renders the showmen in Led Zeppelin and the Who irrelevant.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The Giants lineup even lacked Rafael Devers’ considerable thump for the first time since the Giants traded for him last summer.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of thump
Verb
  • Larson lost control on the final stretch, hit the wall and collided with Tyler Reddick, who slid into the infield but still recovered to finish third.
    — Frankie Frisco, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Cancer June 21 – July 22 Something fun could collide with a practical concern this morning.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of collide

Phrases Containing bump

Browse Nearby Words

bum (out)
bump
bumped
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Cite this Entry

“Bump.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bump. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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