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
see also:
: 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
James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Eliminating the 17-cent-per-gallon sales tax means, on average, that a family will save less than $20 a month at the pump, Anderson said.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Candace Buckner, New York Times, 4 May 2026
North Florida remains the cheapest to pump in Florida while Naples and Palm Beach County are the most expensive areas to buy gas, according to AAA.
—Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pump
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
As for the care and maintenance this home has received, the roof was replaced in 2020, the furnace in 2010, the first floor air conditioning unit was new in 2022, and a new well pump was installed in 2023.
—James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Eliminating the 17-cent-per-gallon sales tax means, on average, that a family will save less than $20 a month at the pump, Anderson said.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Verb
The deal, which began at the start of the 2025-26 season, does more than pump $77 billion into the league’s pockets.
—Candace Buckner, New York Times, 4 May 2026
North Florida remains the cheapest to pump in Florida while Naples and Palm Beach County are the most expensive areas to buy gas, according to AAA.
—Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pump
Cite this Entry
“Pump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pump. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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