pump

verb

Definition of pumpnext
1
as in to bob
to make short up-and-down movements the thighs of the bicyclists were pumping furiously as they neared the finish line

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to interrogate
to put a series of questions to prying neighbors pumped the guileless child for information about the family's new pool

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to drain
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely pumped water from the well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pump Nitric oxide helps relax and dilate blood vessels, which can reduce the resistance the heart has to pump against, Basman explained. — Sarah Garone, HEALTH, 15 Oct. 2026 In 2025, China pumped $18 billion into Laos’s economy, primarily toward industry, mining and agriculture, according to the Vientiane Times, a local newspaper. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026 Trees actively pump vital elements, including calcium, magnesium, potassium and nitrogen from deep subsoils, into their foliage. — Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026 That would mean oil, which is being pumped full out in the world and can't be reined in that quickly, would fill tankers everywhere and the only way to not upset the supply market would be to dump it anywhere. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pump
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pump
  1. bob
  2. interrogate
  3. drain
  4. shake
  5. examine
  6. jerk
  7. question
Verb
  • On a recent morning, surfers bobbed in the water off North Beach, not far from the rocky structure shoring up the train tracks by the sea.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • On Collins Ave in Miami Beach, the yachts along the intracoastal were bobbing nearly at street level.
    — Alex Harris Updated September 27, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of bob
Verb
  • Flores is accused of participating in decisions to torture prisoners and helping oversee a network of officials responsible for detaining and interrogating people perceived as threats to the government.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • At least one copy fell into the hands of the Gestapo, which was hunting for Seghers and interrogating her associates.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of interrogate
Verb
  • Be sure to drain the olives, mushrooms, and use a thick pizza sauce to avoid a watery dip.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Eating triggers saliva production, but a stone can keep the saliva from draining, causing the gland to swell.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of drain
Verb
  • The pope then walked outside greeted and waved at the crowd and shook hands of hospital staff lined up by car to see him off.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Maybe the shooting shook something loose in her and has amplified her worst tendencies.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of shake
Verb
  • The scope of the investigation into Omar is unclear, though Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has suggested that authorities were examining potential crimes related to her family's immigration paperwork.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Proper due diligence means examining construction costs, operating expenses, funding gaps, financial sustainability and realistic projections.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of examine
Verb
  • During the test, Linton jerked and twitched in what prosecutors described as an attempt to fake a seizure.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Drivers should never swerve or jerk the steering wheel, the state patrol said.
    — Celia Frazier, Denver Post, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • There is little public clarity around the individual voters whose registration is being contested or how the administration began to question their eligibility.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • But Laura Zimmermann, Common Sense Media’s director of youth AI research, questioned the value of OpenAI’s statistics.
    — Marc Levy, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of question

Phrases Containing pump

Browse Nearby Words

pummels
pump
pumped
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Cite this Entry

“Pump.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pump. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pump

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pump

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