hump 1 of 2

noun

ˈhəmp How to pronounce hump (audio)
Definition of humpnext
1
as in pouts
British a state of resentful silence or irritability failing her A-levels has certainly given her the hump

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Relevance

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2
as in mountain
an elevation of land higher than a hill a cloud-capped hump straddles the border separating the two countries

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3
as in hill
an area of high ground the grassy hump at the center of the park is a popular sledding spot during the winter

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hump

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to struggle
to devote serious and sustained effort the farmers had to really hump to get the harvest in before the rains

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2
as in to speed
to proceed or move quickly the boat was really humping before the motor started to sputter all of a sudden

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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 hump
Noun
On Laurel Street, a short residential thoroughfare, speeds fell from between 25 to 30 mph to less than 20 mph after speed humps were added. — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2026 The animal had a hump over his shoulders where the gray color showed the lightest, and its nose and snout were long and tapering. — Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 15 July 2026
Verb
She and her son are seen posing in front of a mirror together, before Spears begins speaking in an English accent and seemingly simulating a humping motion while wearing tight shorts and a top that exposes her midsection. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026 Contractors then humped it east around Orange Lake to Jacksonville, an eighty-mile slog. — Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hump
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hump
  1. pouts
  2. mountain
  3. hill
  4. struggle
  5. speed
  6. pet
  7. peak
  8. mound
Noun
  • Most of the time, Mark just flails, complains, and pouts like a giant baby, and Affleck’s twitchy, rapid-fire delivery can’t give the character any life or depth.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Interspersed with Mellencamp’s idiosyncratic views of himself were old press shots of the singer, many without a shirt or showcasing pouts and flexed biceps, that fit the song’s wry message.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of pouts
Noun
  • Just be prepared for the machine to spend a considerable amount of time producing a small mountain of plastic waste alongside your masterpiece.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Perfect Road, a documentary from Danish directors and cousins Adam and Christian Bonke, follows him on an extreme journey through some of Europe’s highest mountain passes, while also providing a meditation on modern life and character study.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of mountain
Noun
  • The entertaining spaces, including the adjoining living and dining rooms, are framed by large windows that look out on the rolling hills.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The area is sparsely populated with private estates set atop hills or within canyons, making firefighting access difficult.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of hill
Verb
  • Specifically, Nico Iamaleava struggled, fumbling once and throwing interceptions to Oregon’s Koi Perich and Jerry Mixon.
    — Elias Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Moon, meanwhile, is struggling at school but on the precipice of adulthood; as the young woman begins to make her own decisions in life, Yue must relinquish a degree of maternal responsibility.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of struggle
Verb
  • Ambrossi can’t sit still, and has left his hotel to speed-walk through the city, speaking rapidly and barely glancing at his phone screen.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Supporters say Prop 45 will speed up environmental review for essential housing, transportation, water, health, education and other projects, cutting costly delays and passing the savings on to consumers.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of speed
Noun
  • The Marquette County Sheriff's Office and American Red Cross will assist evacuees and pets at Negaunee Township Hall.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Once the lions get comfortable in a neighborhood where deer are plentiful, an attack on a pet or a human is more likely, Tira said.
    — Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of pet
Noun
  • The force, which rose to a peak of about 5,000 troops over the summer, has supported arrest operations, patrolled city streets and neighborhoods, and participated in cleanup efforts.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • After co-headlining with Charli xcx at the peak of Brat Summer, Sivan was struck by his post-show emotional crash, when the roar of stadiums gave way to the quiet of being totally on his own.
    — Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of peak
Noun
  • So, Ohtani kept trying to work his way back to the mound for weeks after receiving a lubricating Orthovisc injection in his knee at the beginning of the All-Star break.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • He was fired up walking off the mound in the sixth after fanning Petey Halpin swinging at a 3-2 changeup.
    — Rob Maaddi, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of mound

Browse Nearby Words

humors
hump
humped
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Cite this Entry

“Hump.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hump. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hump

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