Synonyms of pumping

pumping

verb

present participle of pump

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

• bobbing
• shaking
• jerking
• swaying
• nodding
• jogging
• wagging
• seesawing
• rocking
• jouncing
• swinging
• ducking
• wiggling
• bobbling
• oscillating
• jiggling
• wobbling
• undulating
• dropping

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

• interrogating
• examining
• questioning
• grilling
• quizzing
• sweating
• querying
• catechizing
• picking the brains of
• giving the third degree to
• harassing
• debriefing
• pestering
• hounding
• annoying
• canvassing
• polling
• cross-examining
• cross-questioning

3

as in draining

to remove (liquid) gradually or completely

pumped water from the well

Synonyms & Similar Words

• draining
• sucking
• siphoning
• emptying
• tapping
• bleeding
• drawing (off)
• cleaning
• drafting
• evacuating
• milking
• flushing
• exhausting
• purging
• depleting
• clearing
• vacating
• voiding
• effusing
• vacuating
• decanting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• filling
• wetting
• washing
• soaking
• watering
• bathing
• drenching
• flooding
• dousing
• drowning
• overflowing
• inundating
• sousing
• swamping
• submerging
• deluging

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pumping

Land Rover is pumping the brakes on the all-electric Defender. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026

Slowing down pumping velocities prevents dangerous suction vortices from forming near the ceiling intake. — Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026

Remaining construction includes a major upgrade to the underground pumping system to better handle rainwater. — Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

But smart TVs also had a logical, consumer-friendly purpose before the industry started pumping them with ads. — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026

The law is part of the state’s plan to limit groundwater usage in order to rebuild the supply after decades without pumping restrictions. — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2026

The 1,000 feet of elevation gain will get your heart pumping, but the lake and Wizard Island views are well worth it—as is the significantly easier return trip downhill. — Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2026

Keeping it running while pumping gas isn’t really the smartest move for this reason. — Molly Burford, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026

The only way to protect our state is by pumping the brakes and halting this consequentially dangerous development. — Jorge Aguilar, Baltimore Sun, 22 Aug. 2026