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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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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
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 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
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
  • There’s a real buzz in the air, both from the eager Londoners queuing patiently for their order, and from the heady fumes of roasting beans—piled up like mountains of glossy jewels behind the counter.
    — Sarah Allard, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Porter County Recycling and Waste Reduction Executive Director Keri Marrs Barron stood at the closed 27-acre Portage compost site to show the massive mountains of debris.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of mountain
Noun
  • Iconic views of both sea and Grand Prix road below the cantilevered hills ensure that guests slide into the prestigious fantasy of the place with nary a hitch.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The film, which Variety unveiled last year, follows Sethu and Nikita, who, in the wake of their young daughter’s death, retreat to an isolated house in the hills of Idukki in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 18 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
  • Lenexa police are investigating a fatal crash involving a woman who left a medical facility and sped away from officers who were checking on her, a police spokesperson said.
    — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The Democratic Republic of Congo sought to speed up the implementation of a strategic mining partnership with the US, which is looking to rival China’s influence in Africa.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of speed
Noun
  • The installation of a kennel or coyote-proof fencing is a long-term solution for protecting pets.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Sheriff’s officials said the Floriston Fire was burning near Floriston Way, and people who need additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock, should consider leaving immediately.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of pet
Noun
  • In 1967, at the very peak of their powers, the four-piece performed to an audience of 200,000 — still considered the biggest concert crowd in the southern hemisphere — and they were named Australians of the Year.
    — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Typically, the peak month is either July or August, NRF executives said.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of peak
Noun
  • As fate would have it, pitcher JR Ritchie, shown throwing during spring training workouts in February, will take the mound on a day the Braves can clinch a postseason berth.
    — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Luzardo returning to the mound in the postseason is the best-case scenario for the Phillies at this point, but so many questions loom.
    — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 16 Sep. 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 19 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hump

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hump

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