1
: a device that raises, transfers, delivers, or compresses fluids or that attenuates gases especially by suction or pressure or both
2
: heart
3
: an act or the process of pumping
4
: an energy source (such as light) for pumping atoms or molecules
5
: a biological mechanism by which atoms, ions, or molecules are transported across cell membranes compare sodium pump
pumped; pumping; pumps
1
: to work a pump : raise or move a fluid with a pump
2
: to exert oneself to pump or as if to pump something
3
: to move in a manner that resembles the action of a pump handle
1
a
: to raise (something, such as water) with a pump
b
: to draw fluid from with a pump
2
: to pour forth, deliver, or draw with or as if with a pump
pumped money into the economy
pump new life into the classroom
3
a
: to question persistently
pumped him for the information
b
: to elicit by persistent questioning
4
a
: to operate by manipulating a lever
b
: to manipulate as if operating a pump handle
pumped my hand warmly
c
: to cause to move with an action resembling that of a pump handle
a runner pumping her arms
5
: to transport (something, such as ions) against a concentration gradient by the expenditure of energy
6
a
: to excite (atoms or molecules) especially so as to cause emission of coherent monochromatic electromagnetic radiation (as in a laser)
b
: to energize (something, such as a laser) by pumping
: a shoe that grips the foot chiefly at the toe and heel
especially
: a close-fitting woman's dress shoe with a moderate to high heel
Examples of pump in a Sentence
Verb
He pumped the water up from the bottom of the boat.
The machine suddenly stopped pumping.
We pumped the boat dry.
We had to pump the basement out.
Your heart pumps blood all over your body.
I could feel the blood pumping through my veins.
Blood pumped out of the cut.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
On Sunday, April 14, the 27-year-old superstar posed for promotional photos in Milan, Italy in a crisp, white halter-style minidress and matching white pumps.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
In mid-November, under pressure from the United States, Israel permitted the entry of fuel for hospitals, desalination plants and water pumps, wastewater treatment plants, bakeries, and telecommunication services.
—Shira Efron, Foreign Affairs, 15 Apr. 2024
The leg was found about two-thirds of the way down a 100-foot bluff, toward the shoreline and near a pump house.
—Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
In New Orleans, water spilled into the streets as exceptional rainfall overwhelmed the city’s complex network of water pumps and other aging flood-mitigating infrastructure, the city’s Sewerage and Water Board said.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
The pointed-toe white pumps featured a bright green tennis ball at the heel.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 9 Apr. 2024
The singer pivoted to a casual vibe in Frankie Shop cropped trousers cinched with an Iro belt, Paris Texas pumps, Kendra Scott jewelry, and a St. Jude T-shirt.
—Glamour, 8 Apr. 2024
Here’s a pro tip: Add five pumps to running bathwater to lock in moisture and aid in restoring your skin barrier.
—Iman Balagam, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2024
Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
One heart pumps blood throughout the body and the other two move blood to the gills, according to the nonprofit National Wildlife Federation.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Now when Disney trumpets its climate commitments — which include the admirable goal of net-zero planet-warming carbon emissions at the Disneyland Resort by 2030 — the company won’t be undermining itself by teaching kids and their parents that pumping oil into a tank is the way of tomorrow.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The stock, which has been trading since 2021 under the SPAC’s ticker, has tripled this year as the retail-trading crowd pumps it with posts across Stocktwits and Reddit’s WallStreetBets forum.
—Bailey Lipschultz, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024
And it can be used in two different ways: For gradual color, pump two to three drops into your daily moisturizer; for maximum color, dispense a small amount into the palm of your hand and spread evenly across your face.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2024
But Enbridge kept on pumping and filed its own lawsuit against the state, saying the 47-year-old treaty between the United States and Canada gave it a right to operate uninterrupted.
—Dionne Searcey, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The musician first teased the song on TikTok with a quick sketch of a coffee-drinking, chain-smoking skeleton pumping it through its headphones.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2024
Most notably, guests can step into the world of Barbie and experience the adrenaline pumping world of Hot Wheels, alongside other beloved and familiar brands, including Pictionary and UNO.
—Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2024
Noun
Cavitation refers to the formation and collapse of air bubbles in flowing water and is known to damage propellers, pumps and other structures.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
On Sunday, April 14, the 27-year-old superstar posed for promotional photos in Milan, Italy in a crisp, white halter-style minidress and matching white pumps.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
In mid-November, under pressure from the United States, Israel permitted the entry of fuel for hospitals, desalination plants and water pumps, wastewater treatment plants, bakeries, and telecommunication services.
—Shira Efron, Foreign Affairs, 15 Apr. 2024
The leg was found about two-thirds of the way down a 100-foot bluff, toward the shoreline and near a pump house.
—Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
In New Orleans, water spilled into the streets as exceptional rainfall overwhelmed the city’s complex network of water pumps and other aging flood-mitigating infrastructure, the city’s Sewerage and Water Board said.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
The pointed-toe white pumps featured a bright green tennis ball at the heel.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 9 Apr. 2024
The singer pivoted to a casual vibe in Frankie Shop cropped trousers cinched with an Iro belt, Paris Texas pumps, Kendra Scott jewelry, and a St. Jude T-shirt.
—Glamour, 8 Apr. 2024
Here’s a pro tip: Add five pumps to running bathwater to lock in moisture and aid in restoring your skin barrier.
—Iman Balagam, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2024
Verb
Medical personnel determined 16-year-old Daniel Tamayo’s heart was not pumping for a long time, Cook Children’s spokesperson Laura Van Hoosier told the Star-Telegram in a statement.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
One heart pumps blood throughout the body and the other two move blood to the gills, according to the nonprofit National Wildlife Federation.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Now when Disney trumpets its climate commitments — which include the admirable goal of net-zero planet-warming carbon emissions at the Disneyland Resort by 2030 — the company won’t be undermining itself by teaching kids and their parents that pumping oil into a tank is the way of tomorrow.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The stock, which has been trading since 2021 under the SPAC’s ticker, has tripled this year as the retail-trading crowd pumps it with posts across Stocktwits and Reddit’s WallStreetBets forum.
—Bailey Lipschultz, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024
And it can be used in two different ways: For gradual color, pump two to three drops into your daily moisturizer; for maximum color, dispense a small amount into the palm of your hand and spread evenly across your face.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2024
But Enbridge kept on pumping and filed its own lawsuit against the state, saying the 47-year-old treaty between the United States and Canada gave it a right to operate uninterrupted.
—Dionne Searcey, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The musician first teased the song on TikTok with a quick sketch of a coffee-drinking, chain-smoking skeleton pumping it through its headphones.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2024
Most notably, guests can step into the world of Barbie and experience the adrenaline pumping world of Hot Wheels, alongside other beloved and familiar brands, including Pictionary and UNO.
—Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pump.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English pumpe, pompe; akin to Middle Low German pumpe pump, Middle Dutch pompe
Noun (2)
origin unknown
First Known Use
Noun (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1508, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1555, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of pump was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing pump
Articles Related to pump
Dictionary Entries Near pump
Cite this Entry
“Pump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pump. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
pump
1 of 3 noun
: a device that raises, transfers, delivers, or compresses fluids especially by suction or pressure or both
pump
2 of 3 verb1
: to raise, transfer, or compress by means of a pump
pump up water
2
: to free (as from water or air) by the use of a pump
pump a boat dry
3
: to fill by using a pump
pump up a tire
4
: to draw, force, or drive onward in the manner of a pump
the heart pumps blood into the arteries
5
: to move up and down like a pump handle
pump the hand of a friend
6
a
: to question again and again to find out something
b
: to draw out by such questioning
pumper
noun
pump
3 of 3 noun
: a low shoe gripping the foot chiefly at the toe and heel
Medical Definition
pump
1 of 2 noun1
: a device that raises, transfers, or compresses fluids or that attenuates gases especially by suction or pressure or both
2
: heart
3
: an act or the process of pumping
4
: an energy source (as light) for pumping atoms or molecules
5
: a mechanism by which atoms, ions, or molecules are transported across cell membranes see proton pump, sodium pump
pump
2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to work a pump : raise or move a fluid with a pump
1
: to raise (as water) with a pump
2
: to draw fluid from with a pump
3
: to transport (as ions) against a concentration gradient by the expenditure of energy
4
a
: to excite (as atoms or molecules) especially so as to cause emission of coherent monochromatic electromagnetic radiation (as in a laser)
b
: to energize (as a laser) by pumping
More from Merriam-Webster on pump
Nglish: Translation of pump for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of pump for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pump
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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