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
In place of the pumping house music typical of Venice red carpets, a somber ambient score accompanied the arrival, as festival chief Alberto Barbera walked arm in arm with Ben Hania into the Sala Grande Cinema.
—
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
Along with fist-pumping volume, the PartyBox 720 is the largest JBL party speaker that can run off battery power.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Now the battle over waters of the Rio Grande could be nearing resolution as New Mexico, Texas and Colorado announced fresh settlement proposals Friday designed to rein in groundwater pumping along the river in New Mexico and ensure enough river water reliably makes it to Texas.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
And in the height of summer, with an extra air conditioner pumping in the corner, the heat from the semi-exposed kitchen can make the dining room feel slightly steamy.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The pumping systems have been upgraded, and there's been a focus on restoring infrastructure in areas like the Lower Ninth.
—Janee Bolden, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
At Wimbledon in 2007, Rafael Nadal criticized Robin Söderling for fist-pumping instead of apologizing for a point won via hitting the net cord.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
After the Storm In the 20 years after Katrina’s catastrophic landfall, much has been made of the improvements to the levees, floodwalls, and pumping stations designed to protect Gulf Coast communities from flooding.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025
After an unsuccessful appointment with a lactation nurse, Ellerbe ended up pumping every two hours for twelve months.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 27 Aug. 2025
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
Along with fist-pumping volume, the PartyBox 720 is the largest JBL party speaker that can run off battery power.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Now the battle over waters of the Rio Grande could be nearing resolution as New Mexico, Texas and Colorado announced fresh settlement proposals Friday designed to rein in groundwater pumping along the river in New Mexico and ensure enough river water reliably makes it to Texas.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
And in the height of summer, with an extra air conditioner pumping in the corner, the heat from the semi-exposed kitchen can make the dining room feel slightly steamy.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The pumping systems have been upgraded, and there's been a focus on restoring infrastructure in areas like the Lower Ninth.
—Janee Bolden, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
At Wimbledon in 2007, Rafael Nadal criticized Robin Söderling for fist-pumping instead of apologizing for a point won via hitting the net cord.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
After the Storm In the 20 years after Katrina’s catastrophic landfall, much has been made of the improvements to the levees, floodwalls, and pumping stations designed to protect Gulf Coast communities from flooding.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025
After an unsuccessful appointment with a lactation nurse, Ellerbe ended up pumping every two hours for twelve months.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pumping
Verb
-
There was an apple-bobbing contest during the third.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
These ten red clay courts nestled in Riverside Park are fairly idyllic with unusually handsome plantings, friendly volunteers, and sailboats bobbing on the water nearby.—
David Shaftel,
Curbed,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The local police — who were contacted by Licari’s and McKenny’s parents — began interrogating their fellow schoolmates, as well as McKenny’s cousin, up-ending their lives.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
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They're barred from making disparaging remarks verbally or in writing and are prohibited from interrogating the children about what occurs with the other parent.—
Carson Blackwelder,
People.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This boost setting optimizes and tunes the speaker’s performance to produce a louder and crisper sound without draining the battery charge.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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Keep your greens crisp by draining, rinsing, and patting them dry before using.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Weak to light shaking was detected, and people in multiple cities - such as Huntington Beach, Winchester, Menifee and Sun City - reported feeling the tremor, according to the USGS DYFI report.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Homes of political party members and state buildings were ransacked or set ablaze, shaking investor confidence in the Southeast Asian economy and triggering a steep selloff on its stocks and currency markets on Friday.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Shuoli Zhao, an assistant professor at University of Kentucky’s Department of Agricultural Economics, led a study that spent 13 years examining the nutritional content of ready-to-eat cereals marketed to children.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Sep. 2025
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Initially, the county launched a study examining the prospect of tunnels 30- to 40-feet in diameter to transport excessive storm water into the Gulf of America, formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico, the report said.—
Stuart Dyos,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Both are intoxicated, and Roman agrees, but Dennis gets caught up in the moment and starts sucking on Roman’s toes.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
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Will abandons his students at the first sight of Agnes walking by the classroom window, and the two of them are sucking faces a minute later.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The story follows a Jewish family across five generations, from childhood to adulthood, blending laughs and tear-jerking moments, just like in Bob-Waksberg’s other shows.—
Braedon Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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Tear-jerking purple prose designed to make a Baby Boomer nostalgic and sad.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The documentary, a small-town cyberbullying case that resulted in an FBI investigation, tells the topsy-turvy story in a way that leaves you questioning almost every person involved.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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Leadership in the National Institute of Health questioning the use of mRNA vaccines (which include COVID vaccines).—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pumping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pumping. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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