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
Malaysian diver Lee Kian Lie, who is involved in the operation, said workers were pumping water out of the cave.
—
ABC News, 31 May 2026
The team has been pumping water out of the cave to give the men an easier exit.
—CNN Money, 30 May 2026
Merrillville joins several other government entities pumping the brakes on data centers.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Though the region remains relatively underexplored, recent finds have benefited from companies’ access to oil infrastructure and expertise built over decades at nearby Prudhoe Bay, the Alaska oil field that began pumping crude into TAPS in 1977.
—Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Fortune, 24 May 2026
The Sacramento Teachers Association is spending big to try to get two candidates on the Sacramento County Board of Education board, while the California Charter Schools Association is pumping money into their opponents.
—Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Things get clubbier in the basement Music Room, all red velvet with an indoor-outdoor bar for smokers and a modelesque DJ playing pumping house on our visit.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026
This likely can’t be done before the embryo is in place, as simply pumping more material into the yolk would likely cause the membrane enclosing it to burst.
—ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026
Atlanta is getting a new indoor theme park off Spaghetti Junction with over 50,000 square feet of space for adrenaline-pumping activities like a 35-foot slide, airbag obstacle courses, trampolines, sports courts and carnival-style rides.
—Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 20 May 2026
ABC News, 31 May 2026
The team has been pumping water out of the cave to give the men an easier exit.
—CNN Money, 30 May 2026
Merrillville joins several other government entities pumping the brakes on data centers.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Though the region remains relatively underexplored, recent finds have benefited from companies’ access to oil infrastructure and expertise built over decades at nearby Prudhoe Bay, the Alaska oil field that began pumping crude into TAPS in 1977.
—Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Fortune, 24 May 2026
The Sacramento Teachers Association is spending big to try to get two candidates on the Sacramento County Board of Education board, while the California Charter Schools Association is pumping money into their opponents.
—Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Things get clubbier in the basement Music Room, all red velvet with an indoor-outdoor bar for smokers and a modelesque DJ playing pumping house on our visit.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026
This likely can’t be done before the embryo is in place, as simply pumping more material into the yolk would likely cause the membrane enclosing it to burst.
—ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026
Atlanta is getting a new indoor theme park off Spaghetti Junction with over 50,000 square feet of space for adrenaline-pumping activities like a 35-foot slide, airbag obstacle courses, trampolines, sports courts and carnival-style rides.
—Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pumping
Verb
-
During the parade, various NYYC members will be tooling around the Hudson, bobbing among the fleet.—
Paige Darrah,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 May 2026
-
The series welcomes us into its world every week with a peppy pinball alien girl, bobbing and weaving her way through the myriad challenges of everyday life, never failing to arrive at her intended destination.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
The same instinct to accumulate without interrogating shows up everywhere.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
-
Afterward, he was forced into a truck, where agents continued interrogating him after finding contacts linked to Argentine judicial agencies on his cellphone.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
But the recession of 1969–70 hit New York hard, draining the city of half a million jobs.—
Kevin Lozano,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
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Making the powder involves several steps, including milk testing and pasteurization, the separation of curds and whey, draining and pasteurizing the liquid whey, and then sending it to a processing facility to remove more liquid via evaporation and spray drying.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Verb
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With Arena Monterrey shaking, El Grande II hit a flying clothesline for a nearfall.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
YouTubers in their 20s are shaking things up in Hollywood.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Since arriving in Atlanta, conservators at Center for Puppetry Arts have been closely examining the nearly 900-pound figure to determine what restoration work may be needed before Kermit returns to public display.—
Brian Unger,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
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Investigators in Chicago are examining issues connected to that left-leaning nonprofit organization American Future Republic, which Hoffman is listed as the president over, according to Influence Watch.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2026
Verb
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The norm of planning a hangout is too often a long, soul-sucking scheduling thread.—
Julie Beck,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
-
Although aphids have a reputation for being harmful, sap-sucking pests that wreak havoc on the garden, these insects aren't always a bad thing.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
31 May 2026
Verb
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According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of seizures can include short-term confusion, staring spells, stiff muscles and jerking movements of the arms and legs.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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Avoid jerking the floss or aggressive movements; instead, use smooth, gentle motions.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
12 May 2026
Verb
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But now parents – and one county commissioner – are questioning the role technology plays in learning.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
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Reyes was taken into custody by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and turned over to the FBI for questioning, according to the documents.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pumping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pumping. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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