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
Their findings, some previously covered in Fortune, draw on a deep dataset spanning dozens of countries to confirm that ill-being is no longer hump-shaped in age — the young are now the most miserable cohort globally. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 July 2026 In fact, while sand traps aren’t overabundant, elevation changes, natural grass humps and, yes, some sand does challenge you most every hole. — Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 18 June 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
  • 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
  • So how, exactly, did these polka-dot pouts make their way onto the mood board?
    — Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 25 June 2026
Definition of pouts
Noun
  • This week's quiz highlights Hollywood health, mountain missions — and a lot more.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Authorities have also warned of potential further collapse around the glacier on Langtang Lirung mountain in Nepal, which cracked and broke off, triggering the August 26 landslide and flooding.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of mountain
Noun
  • The most momentous of these was reserved for Game 3 of the 2001 World Series, which saw Clemens take the hill with the Yanks down two games to none to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • While there are dozens of species, the chromic king of the hill is Scilla siberica from northern Russia.
    — Paul Cappeillo, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of hill
Verb
  • Underwood, then a true freshman, struggled in that meeting, and his inconsistent play against Western Michigan (12-of-22 passing) has led to questions about his job status.
    — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Despite being one of Africa’s largest oil producers, the Dangote Refinery initially struggled to secure enough domestic crude and had to turn to international suppliers at a premium.
    — Nana Menya Ayensu, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of struggle
Verb
  • Speaking at a joint news conference, Fujimori said Peru's participation in the coalition would speed intelligence-sharing and bolster joint action against criminal groups operating across borders.
    — Marco Aquino, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • AIs are already being used to answer decades-long unsolved complex mathematical problems, and have assisted scientists in speeding up scientific discovery and even designing new viruses.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of speed
Noun
  • She’s made room for dozens of pets over the years, ranging from fluffy Chow Chows and Frenchies (her favorite breeds) to canaries, chinchillas, and beautifully fluffy cats.
    — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Blankets and chairs are encouraged, and service dogs are welcome; all other pets should remain at home.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of pet
Noun
  • At the peak of the outbreak, before the recall, more than 1,000 infections were reported in a single day.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Be sure to plan your trip around mid-to-late October, when autumnal foliage is at its peak, and hit hiking trails that come alive with color, like the Croda da Lago Circuit and its reflective alpine lake, Lago di Federa.
    — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of peak
Noun
  • The last hit scored the Rockies’ seventh and eighth runs, which meant free tacos for all in attendance, as well as the end of Rincon’s night on the mound.
    — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • An undersea cable for an electricity project was set to go right through the popular mound of stones, but protesters were not having it.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of mound

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Cite this Entry

“Hump.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hump. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hump

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hump

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