noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

tramp

TRAMP

Tramp (noun) means a homeless person who travels from place to place, often on foot. Example: “The old tramp slept under the bridge each night.”

noun

A homeless person who travels from place to place, often on foot.

"The old tramp slept under the bridge each night."

A long walk, especially through rugged or scenic countryside.

"They went on a tramp through the hills for the weekend."

verb

To walk with heavy, steady steps, especially for a long distance.

"They tramped for hours through the snow before reaching shelter."

How to use tramp

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo walk heavily over a long distance, or a homeless wanderer.

Common mistake

As a noun for a person, "tramp" is old-fashioned and can sound derogatory — "homeless person" is now the more neutral term. As slang for a promiscuous woman, it is dated and offensive.

Common pairings

tramp through the woods old tramp go on a tramp

Word forms

tramped past tense, tramps plural, tramps singular

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Fill the gap

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The old _____ slept under the bridge each night.

Etymology

From Middle English trampen ("to walk heavily"), from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch trampen ("to stamp"), related to "trample."

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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range cast roll pad hiking drift hike bum swan stray wander roam

Related words

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Rhymes for tramp

amp damp camp vamp lamp ramp kamp stamp champ swamp cramp clamp

See all rhymes for tramp →

Frequently asked questions

What does “tramp” mean?

The word “tramp” means a homeless person who travels from place to place, often on foot. In plain terms, to walk heavily over a long distance, or a homeless wanderer.

How do you pronounce “tramp”?

“Tramp” is pronounced TRAMP (/ˈtɹæmp/ in IPA).

How do you use “tramp” in a sentence?

Here is “tramp” used in a sentence: “The old tramp slept under the bridge each night.”

What part of speech is “tramp”?

Depending on how it is used, “tramp” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “tramp” come from?

The word “tramp” comes from Middle English. From Middle English trampen ("to walk heavily"), from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch trampen ("to stamp"), related to "trample.".

Is “tramp” a common word?

“Tramp” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “tramp” have?

“Tramp” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a homeless person who travels from place to place, often on foot.

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