vamp

16 synonyms and 5 antonyms for vamp, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — The front part of a shoe or boot covering the toes and instep.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

siren flirt manufacture invent

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

enchantress femme fatale man-eater mantrap seductress she-wolf temptress vixen wolfess coquette revamp fabricate

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

The front part of a shoe or boot covering the toes and instep.

“The vamp of the boot was starting to crack with age.”

enchantress femme fatale man-eater mantrap seductress she-wolf siren temptress vixen wolfess flirt coquette

Opposites

girl next door ingenue Casanova promiscuous man rake

2. verb

To improvise or throw something together, often to fill time (often "vamp up").

“The band vamped for a few extra bars while the singer found her mic.”

manufacture revamp fabricate invent

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman vampe, referring to the part of a stocking covering the top of the foot; the "seductive woman" sense developed later, likely shortened from "vampire".

Full origin of vamp →

Frequently asked questions

What does “vamp” mean?

The word “vamp” means the front part of a shoe or boot covering the toes and instep. In plain terms, depending on context: the front of a shoe, an improvised bit of music, or an old-fashioned term for a seductress.

How do you pronounce “vamp”?

“Vamp” is pronounced vamp (/væmp/ in IPA).

How do you use “vamp” in a sentence?

Here is “vamp” used in a sentence: “The vamp of the boot was starting to crack with age.”

What is another word for “vamp”?

Words with a similar meaning to “vamp” include enchantress, femme fatale, man-eater, mantrap, seductress and she-wolf.

What is the opposite of “vamp”?

The opposite of “vamp” — its antonyms — are girl next door, ingenue, Casanova, promiscuous man and rake.

What part of speech is “vamp”?

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

Where does the word “vamp” come from?

The word “vamp” comes from Anglo-Norman. From Anglo-Norman vampe, referring to the part of a stocking covering the top of the foot; the "seductive woman" sense developed later, likely shortened from "vampire".

How many meanings does “vamp” have?

“Vamp” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the front part of a shoe or boot covering the toes and instep.

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manufacture invent siren flirt rake femme fatale revamp mantrap wolfess ingenue vixen fabricate

Nearby words

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