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

An April 9 strike on a pumping station cut throughput by about 700,000 barrels a day before Saudi Arabia restored full capacity days later. — Steven John, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

In a city known for fast, adrenaline-pumping vacations, the Scenic Boat Tour invites visitors to slow down and experience Orlando in a totally different light. — Amber Love Bond, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2026

There are no fist-pumping anthems, blister-raising leads or Homme’s cool-AF braggadocio at play here. — Jason Pettigrew, SPIN, 21 Oct. 2026

Nvidia’s road map calls for pumping a megawatt into a single rack. — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

That means a utility can’t look at a transformer, pumping station or pipeline segment in isolation. — Charlie Sanchez, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

This Pic After a heart-pumping hour-long show, all the models headed to the runway one last time, alongside the musical guests. — Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2026

The event featured high-flying stunts, air-pumping cold thrusters, and a driverless demonstration that looked straight out of a sci-fi movie. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026

After arresting the men, deputies found two 1,200-gallon fuel tanks and pumping equipment inside their van. — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026