noun B1 Intermediate Common

bump

buhmp

Bump (noun) means a light collision or jolt, or the sound it makes. Example: “The car came to a stop with a small bump.”

noun

A light collision or jolt, or the sound it makes.

"The car came to a stop with a small bump."

A small swelling or lump on a surface or on the skin.

"He got a bump on his forehead after hitting the cupboard door."

"The road was full of bumps and potholes."

Informal term for a pregnant woman's swollen belly.

"She proudly showed off her baby bump."

verb

To knock against something, or to move someone or something to a later position or time.

"I accidentally bumped into her in the hallway."

"The airline bumped him to a later flight."

To reply to an online post specifically to push it back to the top of a list.

"He bumped the thread hoping someone would finally answer."

How to use bump

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA light knock or collision, a small swelling, or (as a verb) to knock into something or push something later/higher.

Common pairings

bump into someone get bumped bump a thread baby bump

Word forms

bumped past tense, bumped past tense, bumps plural, bumps plural, bumps singular, bumps singular

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The car came to a stop with a small _____.

Etymology

From Early Modern English "bump" meaning a blow from a collision, likely of North Germanic origin and imitative in nature — related to "bum" and "bumble."

Origin: Germanic

Synonyms

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jolt knock thump lump swelling postpone

Related words

wait hit piece impact mass block surprise strike

Rhymes for bump

UMP jump dump pump hump lump rump sump Gump crump chump stump

See all rhymes for bump →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bump” mean?

The word “bump” means a light collision or jolt, or the sound it makes. In plain terms, a light knock or collision, a small swelling, or (as a verb) to knock into something or push something later/higher.

How do you pronounce “bump”?

“Bump” is pronounced buhmp (/bʌmp/ in IPA).

How do you use “bump” in a sentence?

Here is “bump” used in a sentence: “The car came to a stop with a small bump.”

What part of speech is “bump”?

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

Where does the word “bump” come from?

The word “bump” comes from Germanic. From Early Modern English "bump" meaning a blow from a collision, likely of North Germanic origin and imitative in nature — related to "bum" and "bumble.".

Is “bump” a common word?

“Bump” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “bump” have?

“Bump” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a light collision or jolt, or the sound it makes.

What is the difference between a bump and a lump?

Both name small swellings, but a bump typically sits on a surface — of the skin or of a road — and often results from a knock or jolt. A lump suggests a solid mass and, on the body, more often refers to swelling under the skin rather than on it.

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