as in banging
to come into usually forceful contact with something
that police officer bumped into me and should have apologized
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Recent Examples of bumping
This can happen in transport, on store shelves, or even when bumping around in your crisper drawer.
—
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 23 May 2026
Terminus always made sure their arrival came just after nightfall when the streetlights were lit and families were sitting back with full bellies bumping against their dinner tables, houses quiet; all conversation having already been spent between forkfuls of food and hearty swallows of drink.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
But the Dodgers front office didn’t entertain the notion of bumping him, instead doubling down on their belief that the best thing for Sasaki’s long-term development was continuing to face big-league hitters.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 18 May 2026
If the veteran can return in a couple of weeks the club may prefer to keep Mayer at second, but if Story undergoes surgery and is sidelined for several months, bumping Mayer over makes more sense.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 May 2026
For cocktails and nightlife, hit TopGolf or Nola’s for live music then end the night strong with a table at HQ nightclub where resident and guest DJs keep the dance floor bumping and bottle servers keep the bubbly and energy flowing.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
The upholstered frame is soft and durable—my kids have already put it through the ringer, bumping into it, launching themselves off of it, and using the cushions to build forts.
—Meg Kernahan, Architectural Digest, 15 May 2026
The blond boy came toward me, bumping Morris with one shoulder and almost knocking him over again.
—Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
Drivers trading paint started early as there was bumping coming down the front stretch to take the green flag before Lap 1.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 23 May 2026
Terminus always made sure their arrival came just after nightfall when the streetlights were lit and families were sitting back with full bellies bumping against their dinner tables, houses quiet; all conversation having already been spent between forkfuls of food and hearty swallows of drink.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
But the Dodgers front office didn’t entertain the notion of bumping him, instead doubling down on their belief that the best thing for Sasaki’s long-term development was continuing to face big-league hitters.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 18 May 2026
If the veteran can return in a couple of weeks the club may prefer to keep Mayer at second, but if Story undergoes surgery and is sidelined for several months, bumping Mayer over makes more sense.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 May 2026
For cocktails and nightlife, hit TopGolf or Nola’s for live music then end the night strong with a table at HQ nightclub where resident and guest DJs keep the dance floor bumping and bottle servers keep the bubbly and energy flowing.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
The upholstered frame is soft and durable—my kids have already put it through the ringer, bumping into it, launching themselves off of it, and using the cushions to build forts.
—Meg Kernahan, Architectural Digest, 15 May 2026
The blond boy came toward me, bumping Morris with one shoulder and almost knocking him over again.
—Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
Drivers trading paint started early as there was bumping coming down the front stretch to take the green flag before Lap 1.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bumping
Verb
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The new transmission responded more quickly and reduced involuntary head banging in the car’s cabin.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
28 May 2026
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Levu remained hot, banging home an RBI single in the bottom of the third, cutting the deficit by a run.—
Jack Vita,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
Verb
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Preliminary findings indicated that Hubbs became unresponsive after colliding with Klein, with witnesses reporting that his head and arms appeared to go limp following the impact.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
26 May 2026
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In Garden Grove, a 13-year-old boy died after approaching a curve at around 35 mph and colliding with a center median while riding what authorities said was an electric motorcycle.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
24 May 2026
Verb
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Footage of the game then showed George hobbling back to the dugout, slamming his helmet in frustration.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
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Reyes is accused of intentionally slamming his SUV into the rear of the ICE agent's white pickup truck while the officer was performing official duties, according to the indictment.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
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With the help of White and Daniels, Colbert, with permission from the studio, started smashing up the old set, threw the pieces away into a dumpster, and lit it on fire — thanks to the approval of their fire Marshall (Mathers).—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
23 May 2026
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Richemont’s division, which includes Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Buccellati, grew 16% in Q4 — smashing expectations of an 11% uplift and surpassing the previous quarter, when jewelry sales grew 14%.—
Laure Guilbault,
Vogue,
22 May 2026
Verb
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According to San Diego police, the driver crossed over oncoming traffic on National Avenue and then onto the sidewalk, crashing into the victim and the bus stop.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
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Officers later found the vehicle and initiated a short pursuit, which ended with the suspect crashing into a power pole on the 1400 block of Center Street, near Seminary.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Verb
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However, when his past comes knocking, he is forced to confront it.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
22 May 2026
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The footmen of such regimes always come knocking on your door at around four in the morning.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
Verb
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Rather than using an explosive payload like many Ukrainian interceptors, the Yolka destroys the target by ramming it at a high speed.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
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In other immigration news, a federal grand jury indicted a young man for allegedly ramming federal agents last October, a CPS mom is asking the government to release her son from detention, and Ald.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Verb
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Jocytė finished with three points in 16 minutes, most notably calling for an isolation against Clark and hitting a 3-pointer in her face.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
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Not even the bonus of a Yeremy Pino free kick hitting both posts yet somehow staying out could help Rayo respond.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bumping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumping. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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