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
As for accessories, the British royal family member opted for neutrals for her handbag and pumps in beige and embraced warm tones to complement her autumnal color scheme with gold earrings.
—
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025
Humanity pumps 40 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere each year.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025
Cardiac output—how much blood the heart pumps per minute—is strong, and the heart muscle is highly efficient.
—Lauryn Higgins, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
The water sits in a small reservoir and the electric motor pumps it out.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025
Victor Sanchez pumps gas into his truck on August 28, 2025, in Mill Valley, California.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Vince Camuto Sindree Pump If Roberts’ brown pointed-toe heels caught your eye, these Vince Camuto pumps showcase a similar aesthetic.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Seconds later, Prater pumps Batista with five bullets.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
The premium Beats Audio system in the Jetta GLI pumps 400 W through nine speakers, including a subwoofer.
—ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2025
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025
Humanity pumps 40 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere each year.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025
Cardiac output—how much blood the heart pumps per minute—is strong, and the heart muscle is highly efficient.
—Lauryn Higgins, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
The water sits in a small reservoir and the electric motor pumps it out.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025
Victor Sanchez pumps gas into his truck on August 28, 2025, in Mill Valley, California.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Vince Camuto Sindree Pump If Roberts’ brown pointed-toe heels caught your eye, these Vince Camuto pumps showcase a similar aesthetic.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Seconds later, Prater pumps Batista with five bullets.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
The premium Beats Audio system in the Jetta GLI pumps 400 W through nine speakers, including a subwoofer.
—ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pumps
Verb
-
The reader bobs along in the author’s stream of consciousness, riding crests of despair, anger, and hilarity as Toews assembles the shards of her past to investigate her will to write, which is deeply entwined with her will to live.—
Kristen Martin,
The Atlantic,
27 Aug. 2025
-
But sometimes even icons need to switch things up a bit—cue the dizzying array of flippy waves, shags, and bobs over the years.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Also starring Denis O'Hare, Zachary Quinto, Sandra Bernhard, Isaac Powell, and Patti LuPone, NYC interrogates many thematic threads, but none more so than the illusion of control.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Made in Africa is a monthly column by Rolling Stone staff writer Mankaprr Conteh that celebrates and interrogates the lives, concerns, and innovations of cultural workers of the African diaspora from their vantage point.—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Rolling Stone,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Most indoor plants are watered from the top until the water drains from the pot through the drainage holes.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Watch for when the sun hits different sections of your garden, how water drains after a heavy rain, and what critters (large and small) like to stop by for a visit.—
Mike Irvine,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Yet Leto never shakes the role’s robotic nature, even as his character strives to become more human, and his acting partners struggle to play off that in a meaningful way.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
-
These days, the Detroit area gets more love from the outside world, but the auto industry, while certainly healthier, never fully shakes nagging questions about its future, particularly now with worries about competition from China and tariff uncertainties.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While several documentaries have been made about Rader, Borgman’s film examines the crimes through a new lens via Rader’s daughter, Kerri Rawson.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The Goldman report also examines the risks and broader implications.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Italy taps into the wisdom and energy of seniors through volunteering.—
Ken Stern,
CNBC,
12 Oct. 2025
-
In a new layer, the storyline taps into the fresh embrace of Islam by some youngsters in France with second and third generation migrant roots.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
No one questions the investment, no one questions the way Mayer went to the [Latin] Grammys.—
Ingrid Fajardo,
Billboard,
13 Oct. 2025
-
For Kayla, what began as a small favor has spiraled into a conflict that questions both friendship and personal boundaries.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
So how much do his diamond grills cost?—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Gas grills require a bit more work.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pumps. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share