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
The painting, which shows Trump famously pumping his fist after surviving gunfire at a campaign rally, was installed in the White House State Floor in April 2025.
—
Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Ragans was pumping high velocity.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026
Not when Mason Miller is pumping strikes as part of a franchise-record heater.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Several news outlets have reported that the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which has been pumping about a hundred million dollars a month into LIV since the league’s launch, in 2022, will be pulling its funding at the end of the year.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
Microsoft’s primary role in the space has been as an investor and cloud provider, pumping billions of dollars into Anthropic and OpenAI, which have committed to hefty spending on Microsoft Azure.
—Kate Rooney,jordan Novet, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
To test their hypothesis, the researchers transplanted a second heart into mice that was not pumping blood through the left ventricle.
—Anil Oza, STAT, 23 Apr. 2026
Every star is a massive thermonuclear reactor pumping enormous amounts of power into space.
—Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026
The pumping plant draws its power from California’s main electric grid, and that will continue.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Ragans was pumping high velocity.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026
Not when Mason Miller is pumping strikes as part of a franchise-record heater.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Several news outlets have reported that the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which has been pumping about a hundred million dollars a month into LIV since the league’s launch, in 2022, will be pulling its funding at the end of the year.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
Microsoft’s primary role in the space has been as an investor and cloud provider, pumping billions of dollars into Anthropic and OpenAI, which have committed to hefty spending on Microsoft Azure.
—Kate Rooney,jordan Novet, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
To test their hypothesis, the researchers transplanted a second heart into mice that was not pumping blood through the left ventricle.
—Anil Oza, STAT, 23 Apr. 2026
Every star is a massive thermonuclear reactor pumping enormous amounts of power into space.
—Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026
The pumping plant draws its power from California’s main electric grid, and that will continue.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pumping
Verb
-
Naval mines bobbing in the waters of the Persian Gulf, threatening oil tankers.—
Jon Gambrell,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Here on the shore, overlooking the lighthouse and the harbor’s bobbing boats, partners Claire Hanrahan and Andrew Ainslie’s restaurant is the epitome of laidback chic with its country-kitchen interiors and butter yellow frontage.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But those comparisons won’t do The White Lotus any favors, since Beef is more effective than that series’ second and third seasons in interrogating how exclusive locations sharpen class differences.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
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Season 50 is honoring its past and legacy, actively interrogating it, dropping players from different eras into direct competition and letting the game itself reveal what has changed and what hasn’t.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Shane Lowry has the distinction of draining one of the more memorable putts in recent golf history.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Grow crocosmia in moist, organically rich, well-draining soil in full sun to light shade.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On Thursday night, after shaking off a deal that was short-circuited by another team, the Ravens would make a pick (Penn State guard Vega Ioane) that symbolically spoke to the franchise’s core values.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Backstage, everyone was crying and shaking, Pearlman says.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The film traces his long-running bid to step out of Chun’s shadow and claim the top seat himself, examining the web of alliances, rivalries, and institutional maneuvers that defines his ascent.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
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Blanche said ballistics experts are still examining evidence to provide more clarity on those questions.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Feeling restless and reckless, Michael (LJ Benet) is drawn to a hard-rocking local band that is secretly a quartet of young vampires that is literally sucking the life out of the community.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
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In 1992, the Daily Mirror published photos of Bryan sucking on the royal’s toes while on vacation in Saint-Tropez.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Tony Fauci was not just jerking the country around.—
David Blumenthal,
Fortune,
24 Mar. 2026
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The clip on TikTok shows the seat jerking abruptly, apparently from forceful pushes by the person seated behind her.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The aggressive political gains DeSantis and Republicans seek also have some in the party questioning whether the new map would put GOP incumbents at risk of losing future elections.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
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Despite the apology, Camp Mystic’s plans to reopen in late May with nearly 900 girls have angered victims’ families, and state officials are questioning whether the license should be renewed.—
Jim Vertuno,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pumping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pumping. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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