English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun B1 Intermediate

thump

thuhmp

Thump (noun) means a heavy blow, or the dull sound it makes. Example: “He gave the door a thump to get their attention.”

noun
1
A heavy blow, or the dull sound it makes.
"He gave the door a thump to get their attention."
"She heard a thump from the room next door."
verb
1
To hit something hard, producing a dull, heavy sound.
"He thumped the table in frustration."

How to use thump

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA heavy hit or bang, or to hit something that way.

Common pairings
thump the table heart thumping

Word forms

thumped past tense, thumps plural, thumps singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “thump” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He gave the door a _____ to get their attention.

Etymology

First recorded in the mid-1500s, likely imitative of the sound itself.

· First attested 1500

Class of 1500 thump joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →

Related words

Rhymes for thump

See all rhymes for thump →

Frequently asked questions

What does “thump” mean?

The word “thump” means a heavy blow, or the dull sound it makes. In plain terms, a heavy hit or bang, or to hit something that way.

How do you pronounce “thump”?

“Thump” is pronounced thuhmp (/θʌmp/ in IPA).

How do you use “thump” in a sentence?

Here is “thump” used in a sentence: “He gave the door a thump to get their attention.”

What part of speech is “thump”?

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

Where does the word “thump” come from?

The word “thump” dates back to around 1500. First recorded in the mid-1500s, likely imitative of the sound itself.

How many meanings does “thump” have?

“Thump” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a heavy blow, or the dull sound it makes.

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial