bulk

1 of 3

noun

ˈbəlk How to pronounce bulk (audio)
 also  ˈbu̇lk
1
a
: magnitude
impressed by the sheer bulk of her accomplishment
b
biology : material that forms a mass in the intestine
especially : fiber sense 1d
need more bulk in their diet
2
a
: body
especially : a large or corpulent human body
he hauled his … bulk out of the armchair Herman Wouk
b
: an organized structure especially when viewed primarily as a mass of material
the giant bulk of Mt. KatahdinJackson Rivers
c
: a ponderous shapeless mass
3
: the main or greater part
spent the bulk of his time in the office
the bulk of the population

bulk

2 of 3

verb

bulked; bulking; bulks

transitive verb

1
: to cause to swell or bulge : stuff
bulk out a report with lots of graphs and charts
2
: to gather into a mass or aggregate

intransitive verb

1
2
: to appear as a factor : loom
a consideration that bulks large in everyone's thinking

bulk

3 of 3

adjective

1
: being in large quantities or not divided into separate units : being in bulk
bulk shipments of food
bulk mailings
2
: of or relating to materials in bulk
bulk prices
Phrases
in bulk
1
: not divided into parts or packaged in separate units
2
: in large quantities
buys rice in bulk
Choose the Right Synonym for bulk

bulk, mass, volume mean the aggregate that forms a body or unit.

bulk implies an aggregate that is impressively large, heavy, or numerous.

the darkened bulk of the skyscrapers

mass suggests an aggregate made by piling together things of the same kind.

a mass of boulders

volume applies to an aggregate without shape or outline and capable of flowing or fluctuating.

a tremendous volume of water

Examples of bulk in a Sentence

Noun We spent the bulk of the summer at the beach. Farming makes up the bulk of the country's economy. The great bulk of these people are extremely poor. Despite his bulk, he's a very fast runner. Verb she bulked up her hair with one hand as she reached for the shears with the other Adjective They sent bulk shipments of food to the country.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Crayola markers are on sale during Prime Day 2025, like this single 40-count pack for just $15, or buy in bulk as a classroom gift with a 12-pack for only a few bucks more. Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 9 July 2025 Gavi, at its most basic level, is Costco for immunizations, wielding its massive purchasing power to buy vaccines in bulk for cheap. Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 28 June 2025
Verb
Hard-line Republicans initially bulking at the price tag. ABC News, 6 July 2025 Many stevia products sold in stores contain additional ingredients, including bulking agents and other sweeteners. Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 2 June 2025
Adjective
That shift started 15 years ago, when growers began placing Boveda packs into bulk shipments to stop their flower from overdrying during transit. Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025 Cranes unload the cargo of Panamanian flagged bulk carrier Star Taishan at the Port of Rio Grande, southern Brazil, on May 6, 2025. Nur Hikmah Md Ali, CNBC, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for bulk

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb, and Adjective

Middle English, heap, bulk, from Old Norse bulki cargo

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1693, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bulk was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bulk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulk. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

bulk

1 of 3 noun
1
: greatness of size or mass : volume
2
: a large body or mass
3
: the main or greater part
did the bulk of the work
4

bulk

2 of 3 verb
1
: to cause to swell or bulge
2
: to appear as a consideration
an issue that bulks large in her mind

bulk

3 of 3 adjective
: being in bulk
bulk foods

Medical Definition

bulk

noun
: material (as indigestible fibrous residues of food) that forms a mass in the intestine
especially : fiber sense 2

Legal Definition

bulk

1 of 2 noun
: a large mass

bulk

2 of 2 adjective
1
: being in bulk
bulk shipment of wheat
bulk foods
2
: of or relating to materials in bulk
bulk buyer

More from Merriam-Webster on bulk

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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