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
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
At its best, Tudor’s out-of-possession approach is suffocating, a full-blooded style that excites fans and sets adrenaline pumping through the team.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Mike eventually links up with Sharon, who links up with Lou, who might be pumping her for information on how to get to Hemsworth’s mercenary.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2026
At one end of the ice was the brother, pumping his fists.
—Julia Frankel, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2026
Kagiyama highlighted Japan’s performances Saturday, pumping both fists after his program.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
That’s when the adrenaline gets pumping.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 6 Feb. 2026
Walking Lunges Walking lunges are a highly effective aerobic workout that gets your heart pumping and a strength workout that burns calories for weight loss.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 5 Feb. 2026
State leaders are pumping a new round of funding into select rural Georgia communities to prepare their development sites for the needs of industry.
—Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 16 Feb. 2026
At its best, Tudor’s out-of-possession approach is suffocating, a full-blooded style that excites fans and sets adrenaline pumping through the team.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Mike eventually links up with Sharon, who links up with Lou, who might be pumping her for information on how to get to Hemsworth’s mercenary.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2026
At one end of the ice was the brother, pumping his fists.
—Julia Frankel, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2026
Kagiyama highlighted Japan’s performances Saturday, pumping both fists after his program.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
That’s when the adrenaline gets pumping.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 6 Feb. 2026
Walking Lunges Walking lunges are a highly effective aerobic workout that gets your heart pumping and a strength workout that burns calories for weight loss.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 5 Feb. 2026
State leaders are pumping a new round of funding into select rural Georgia communities to prepare their development sites for the needs of industry.
—Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pumping
Verb
-
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
-
Meeks and cinematographer Stefan Weinberger pay special attention to the region’s natural beauty, repeating a single shot of a car bobbing over a two-lane highway amid vibrant green hills.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Moreover, sociology is one of the best empirical fields for interrogating the consequences of different values, for how ideas get built into institutions, for how social networks operate across domains.—
Wendy Nelson Espeland,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Other major Jewish groups that conduct population surveys have in the past typically avoided closely interrogating Jewish opinions about Zionism.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To prevent this from happening again, repot the peace lily in fresh soil that is well-draining.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Wembanyama made a 3-pointer, but Raptors star Barnes ended it by draining his only shot of the game.—
Greg Beacham,
Twin Cities,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This new #earthquake shaking potential map from the California Geological Survey highlights the distribution of shaking hazard across #California.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Her legs were physically shaking in her beginning pose.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As a rule, examining Polish posters of this ilk, and trying to guess which films are being publicized, is a deliciously difficult sport.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
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The Dallas Morning News is launching a reader survey as part of a project examining how affordable parenthood is in North Texas — and where families feel the biggest strain.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Poly means many and ticks are blood-sucking insects.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
-
There are countless benefits to owning a well-functioning vacuum cleaner—picking up debris and sucking up allergens are just the beginning.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The room sighs in relief a second later when Buckley reanimates, jerking and flailing like a soul possessed, grinning maniacally — all on purpose, inspired by the earlier veil snafu.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Feb. 2026
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Some signs that the carburetor is clogged on a snow blower are starting then dying a few seconds afterward, jerking, sputtering noises, and black smoke emitting from the exhaust.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Public speakers echoed those concerns, questioning the district’s transparency and warning that additional reductions would further strain school communities.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Now, members of Congress have another shot at questioning Wexner, who is 88 years old.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pumping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pumping. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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