1
as in bobs
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 interrogates
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 drains
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 pumps
The Dodgers’ heartbeat still pumps.
—
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2024
For the walkabout, Charlotte wore a blue coat dress embroidered with a tartan pattern, navy tights and black Mary Jane pumps.
—Rachel Burchfield, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
The remainder powers the standalone system, which initially pumps and precools groundwater, reported PV Magazine.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Dec. 2024
Lawrence stuck to simplicity and the all-black color palette with her accessories, wearing a pair of pointy black Manolo Blahnik pumps, and eschewing all jewelry aside from a pair of black matte teardrop earrings.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2024
Without electricity, the water pumps for the snow guns fell silent.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2024
The oil industry pumps millions of dollars into state election campaigns.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2024
For the walkabout, Charlotte wore a blue coat dress embroidered with a tartan pattern, navy tights and black Mary Jane pumps.
—Rachel Burchfield, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
The remainder powers the standalone system, which initially pumps and precools groundwater, reported PV Magazine.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Dec. 2024
Lawrence stuck to simplicity and the all-black color palette with her accessories, wearing a pair of pointy black Manolo Blahnik pumps, and eschewing all jewelry aside from a pair of black matte teardrop earrings.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2024
Without electricity, the water pumps for the snow guns fell silent.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2024
The oil industry pumps millions of dollars into state election campaigns.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pumps
Verb
-
Looking around the restaurant patio at the Chateau Marmont, populated by folks famous and fame-adjacent, some whispering, others talking at a volume that seems less an invitation than a demand to eavesdrop, the filmmaker shakes his head and smiles.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2024
-
Dexter has a panicked, sickened feeling after seeing his first dead kid, and the whole experience shakes him to his core.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
This article examines several recent key developments in digital service taxation.—
Aleksandra Bal,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
-
The concept of surveillance capitalism examines how tech companies use personal data to predict and manipulate consumer behavior for profit.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pumps. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share