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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pumping
Each aquifer responds uniquely to pumping and prolonged dry periods.
—
Claire Marks, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026
Epic Pass or regular lift ticket in hand, head up to Vail Ski Resort to get your fill of your favorite high-altitude, heart-pumping activity.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026
Putnam County Commissioner Joshua Alexander, who opposes the bill, told one Senate committee a constituent called to complain that his well has been pumping mud since the drawdown began.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2026
Good news got your heart pumping?
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Across the calm waters behind a pumping station near Lake Borgne, hundreds of saplings stand out in the mist, wrapped in white plastic cylinders.
—Melina Walling, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
A couple of people pulled out knives and slipped over to puncture leather hoses pumping water to put out the fire.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
The 95-year-old investor, worth an eye-watering $149 billion, joins a legion of ultra-rich businessmen pumping millions into traditional media.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
The network has navigated the jump to digital better than its competitors, pumping resources into a streaming service and digital arm that has grown impressively as other networks stumbled.
—Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
Claire Marks, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026
Epic Pass or regular lift ticket in hand, head up to Vail Ski Resort to get your fill of your favorite high-altitude, heart-pumping activity.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026
Putnam County Commissioner Joshua Alexander, who opposes the bill, told one Senate committee a constituent called to complain that his well has been pumping mud since the drawdown began.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2026
Good news got your heart pumping?
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Across the calm waters behind a pumping station near Lake Borgne, hundreds of saplings stand out in the mist, wrapped in white plastic cylinders.
—Melina Walling, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
A couple of people pulled out knives and slipped over to puncture leather hoses pumping water to put out the fire.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
The 95-year-old investor, worth an eye-watering $149 billion, joins a legion of ultra-rich businessmen pumping millions into traditional media.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
The network has navigated the jump to digital better than its competitors, pumping resources into a streaming service and digital arm that has grown impressively as other networks stumbled.
—Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pumping
Verb
-
Picture a waterfront bustling with bobbing fishing boats and the air tinged with the scent of fresh seafood, as San Hing Praya Street and Pak She Praya Road dish out alfresco dining scenes straight out of a sunset lover's dream.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The film is the third in Saleh’s trilogy interrogating the machinery of political control—following Sundance pic The Nile Hilton Incident and Cairo Conspiracy.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
23 Feb. 2026
-
His final feature, Menus-Plaisirs—Les Troisgros, about a three-star Michelin restaurant in France, explores the culinary process from the market to the table, interrogating every single step from the selection of produce to the choice behind each dish.—
Vikram Murthi,
The Atlantic,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Roughly 40% of federal spending now goes to defense and security, draining Russia’s economy and hollowing out its workforce.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Ball sizzled by draining 6 of 7 attempts beyond the arc in that period.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Like all melodramatists, Hong deals in coincidence and magnifies casual connections and minor accidents into life-shaking events.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Other causes included multiple injuries, gunshot wounds, suffocation, burns and shaking.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
New research from Southern Methodist University adds another piece to that debate, examining how digital media use may be linked to the kinds of words toddlers learn — and the family factors that shape how much screen time kids get.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Over the years, there have been various studies examining the trend, many reaching different conclusions.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trying to undo a Brazilian butt lift (or BBL) by sucking it out of the body carries the risk for nerve damage, asymmetry, and skin laxity.—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The poverty line’s narrow focus on food leaves out how much other expenses are now sucking up incomes and lowballing the minimum amount Americans need to get by.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Video of the collision shows the train jerking from side-to-side.—
Sara Gregory,
AJC.com,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Merchants are aware that prices of metals could backtrack or keep jerking upward.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The scandal intensifies scrutiny on the monarchy’s role and governance, with critics questioning how power is wielded within Britain’s upper echelons.—
Danica Kirka,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Thanks to the rich deals, Wall Street investors are questioning whether the rapdily growing AI boom is an economic bubble that will soon burst.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pumping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pumping. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
