Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to plump for

to plump for

1 7.3
Choose someone or something after thinking about other options
  • phrasal verb
  • UK
translation icon : optar por
  • Some nuggets of nutritious substance survive, but these are few and far between, and the crowd all seems to plump for Le Big Mac en masse.
  • plumped for more

Examples

  • Therefore, I shall plump for the Hermitage.

    Deception (1946)

  • Ryan also plumps for his Medicare reforms as a solution to inequality.

    Blog text (17)

  • Which option are you plumping for?

    The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015)

  • - What did you plump for?

    Brief Encounter (1945)

  • And then plump for whatever turns out to be the cheapest option.

    I Give It a Year (2013)

  • OLCI came and went, and I plumped for a seat in the back of the plane.

    Blog text (4)

  • The Cheerios are too high up, so I've plumped for the generics down below.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • There's no carrot cake mix, so Mama plumps for chocolate fudge instead.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • As I had cause to remain in the ORD until the evening, I plumped for the 21:30 flight and hoped the flight wouldn't be too bumpy.

    Blog text (4)

  • After considering all the candidates, she decided to plump for the one with the most experience.

Synonyms

to choose
vsto plump for
∞ 1.0

Pick one thing or person from a group

often implies giving active support beyond mere selection
to support
vsto plump for
∞ 1.0

Give help to a person or idea

adds the meaning of selecting between options after thinking
to back
vsto plump for
932 1.0

To support someone or something

is more about choosing one option after consideration rather than general support
to go for
vsto plump for
430 2.1

To choose one thing instead of others

usually suggests backing a choice after thought rather than spontaneous liking
to opt
vsto plump for
218 3.2

To choose one thing from two or more options

focuses more on endorsing or backing than just selecting
to endorse
vsto plump for
183 4.2

To publicly show support for a person or idea

is less formal and includes choosing after weighing alternatives
to opt for
vsto plump for
63 3.5

Choose one thing from several available

emphasizes giving support as well as making a choice
to plump
vsto plump for
  • UK
1 7.4

To choose one thing or person from a group

is used to give visible support after making a choice
to plunk for
vsto plump for
  • Informal
8.5

To choose to support someone, often by voting

leans toward backing after weighing options rather than casual liking
to indorse
vsto plump for
  • Archaic
7.9

To show public support for someone or something

is a more informal way to choose or back after considering options

Antonyms

to oppose
∞ 2.9

To be against something and try to stop it

to disfavor
  • US
1 5.7

To dislike and not support people or things

How Committed

to endorse
183 4.2
to back
932 1.0
to plump for
  • UK
1 7.3
to opt for
63 3.5
to choose
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

plump for infinitive
plumped for past
plumped for past participle
plumping for present participle
plumps for third person singular

Morphology

plump + for

The MWE meaning 'to choose or support' follows directly from combining 'plump' in its choice sense (to opt for) with the preposition 'for' (in favour of), so a learner who knows those constituent meanings can infer the phrase. Although 'plump' has other unrelated senses (e.g., ‘to fall’ or ‘chubby’), given the provided verb sense the composition is transparent and follows a common pattern of verb + preposition.

Etymology

Plump for may come from an older sense of plump meaning to fall or settle heavily on something. Imagine dropping a heavy coin or sitting down quickly on one choice among many; to plump for something became a way of giving it your clear 'choice' or 'support'.