1
as in bobbing
to make short up-and-down movements
the thighs of the bicyclists were pumping furiously as they neared the finish line
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in interrogating
to put a series of questions to
prying neighbors pumped the guileless child for information about the family's new pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in draining
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely
pumped water from the well
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pumping
Across the calm waters behind a pumping station near Lake Borgne, hundreds of saplings stand out in the mist, wrapped in white plastic cylinders.
—
Melina Walling, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
A couple of people pulled out knives and slipped over to puncture leather hoses pumping water to put out the fire.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
The 95-year-old investor, worth an eye-watering $149 billion, joins a legion of ultra-rich businessmen pumping millions into traditional media.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Toward the end, people grab partners and race around the ballroom in a gallop through a tunnel of arms, an exhilarating experience—especially in heels—that leaves the heart pumping and the quads sore for days.
—Valeriya Safronova, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
Some business owners blame city leaders for not preparing enough ahead of time, despite having water-pumping trucks set up in the area.
—Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Escobar runs in place, pumping his arms.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Whereas Masimo’s products are used in hospital rooms to monitor how a patient’s heart is pumping oxygen and how the brain is functioning, Danaher has become known for supplying the tools and other products used to research, develop and manufacturing drugs.
—Matthew J. Belvedere,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
This year’s scene saw Reddick fist-pumping through the delirium of his first Daytona 500 win in front of 150,000 fans on the frontstretch for a while.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 16 Feb. 2026
Melina Walling, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
A couple of people pulled out knives and slipped over to puncture leather hoses pumping water to put out the fire.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
The 95-year-old investor, worth an eye-watering $149 billion, joins a legion of ultra-rich businessmen pumping millions into traditional media.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Toward the end, people grab partners and race around the ballroom in a gallop through a tunnel of arms, an exhilarating experience—especially in heels—that leaves the heart pumping and the quads sore for days.
—Valeriya Safronova, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
Some business owners blame city leaders for not preparing enough ahead of time, despite having water-pumping trucks set up in the area.
—Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Escobar runs in place, pumping his arms.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Whereas Masimo’s products are used in hospital rooms to monitor how a patient’s heart is pumping oxygen and how the brain is functioning, Danaher has become known for supplying the tools and other products used to research, develop and manufacturing drugs.
—Matthew J. Belvedere,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
This year’s scene saw Reddick fist-pumping through the delirium of his first Daytona 500 win in front of 150,000 fans on the frontstretch for a while.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pumping
Verb
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Picture a waterfront bustling with bobbing fishing boats and the air tinged with the scent of fresh seafood, as San Hing Praya Street and Pak She Praya Road dish out alfresco dining scenes straight out of a sunset lover's dream.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
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And many of them were side-stepping and bobbing along to a set by DJ Mace, who was also busting moves nonstop, even when the cameras weren't on him.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The film is the third in Saleh’s trilogy interrogating the machinery of political control—following Sundance pic The Nile Hilton Incident and Cairo Conspiracy.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
23 Feb. 2026
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His final feature, Menus-Plaisirs—Les Troisgros, about a three-star Michelin restaurant in France, explores the culinary process from the market to the table, interrogating every single step from the selection of produce to the choice behind each dish.—
Vikram Murthi,
The Atlantic,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Roughly 40% of federal spending now goes to defense and security, draining Russia’s economy and hollowing out its workforce.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Ball sizzled by draining 6 of 7 attempts beyond the arc in that period.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After shaking off the flu, Arenas didn’t make his first bucket until almost midway through the second half.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
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Cameras showed audience members nodding along, shaking their shoulders and otherwise getting into the music.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The rapid rise of Korean drama in Europe is entering a new phase, shifting from streaming success toward local adaptation and co-development, executives said during a Mip London session examining the genre’s growing regional impact.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2026
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One may gain a better understanding of how call spread risk reversals work by examining the histogram of returns for the past 11 years below.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Trying to undo a Brazilian butt lift (or BBL) by sucking it out of the body carries the risk for nerve damage, asymmetry, and skin laxity.—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
23 Feb. 2026
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The poverty line’s narrow focus on food leaves out how much other expenses are now sucking up incomes and lowballing the minimum amount Americans need to get by.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Video of the collision shows the train jerking from side-to-side.—
Sara Gregory,
AJC.com,
26 Feb. 2026
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Merchants are aware that prices of metals could backtrack or keep jerking upward.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The scandal intensifies scrutiny on the monarchy’s role and governance, with critics questioning how power is wielded within Britain’s upper echelons.—
Danica Kirka,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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Thanks to the rich deals, Wall Street investors are questioning whether the rapdily growing AI boom is an economic bubble that will soon burst.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pumping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pumping. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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