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to pump

to pump

49 2.3
To move a part of the body up and down or back and forth quickly
  • verb
  • /pʌmp/
: mover
  • All right, let's go and pump the legs and see what happens now.

Loo me up, Daddy, and pump on the brakes.

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Examples

  • My legs are creaky at first, but once I get pumping, I feel like I'm flying.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Ray, you gotta pump yourself up to do it.

  • Get out there and get your party pumping!

  • Let's pump the brakes a little here.

  • "Hello, Teddy, how's it going?" she said as she briskly pumped his hand.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Sam grasped Tom's hand and pumped it vigorously in genuine pleasure at the reunion.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The athletes began to pump their arms as they sprinted down the track.

  • She pumped the bicycle tires until they were firm and ready for a ride.

  • As the heart pumps blood throughout the body, it supplies essential oxygen to the organs.

Synonyms

to bob
vsto pump
61 2.7

To move up and down quickly in short movements

moves with firmer regular force instead of quick short bounces
to bob around
vsto pump
  • US
3 3.9

Move up and down gently while floating in water or air

moves with steady strong strokes rather than gentle random floating motion
to jounce
vsto pump
2 9.6

To move up and down in a quick, jerky way

moves with steady regular force rather than sudden jolts
to joggle
vsto pump
1 7.7

To move something lightly and repeatedly so it shakes

moves with stronger, more regular force rather than light shaking
to succuss
vsto pump
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To shake something hard to mix its contents

moves in repeated regular or forceful strokes not general shaking

Phrasal Verbs

to pump up
  • Informal
53 4.1

Make someone feel excited and full of energy

39 3.2

To remove liquid with a pump or make many things quickly

15 1.6

Move water from one place to another using a machine

Compounds

21 1.4

A machine at a service station that fills a car with fuel

water pump
  • Specialized
15 3.0

A device that moves water or coolant through a car engine to prevent overheating

stomach pump
  • Specialized
10 4.5

A machine that removes food and liquid from the stomach by sucking in poisoning cases

heat pump
  • Specialized
6 4.2

A machine that moves heat from outside air or the ground into a building to warm it

pump action
  • Specialized
4 6.3

A sliding lever on a shotgun or rifle that loads a new round when you move it back and forth

sump pump
  • Specialized
4 4.0

A pump that removes water from a low area like a basement

3 1.9

A tool that moves air into or out of objects such as tires and balls

oil pump
  • Specialized
3 3.4

A machine that moves oil to engine parts to cool them and make them move smoothly

3 3.5

A small building that holds machines to move water for a town or farm

3 3.0

A simple device you move by hand to lift water or push air

bilge pump
  • Specialized
2 7.1

A machine that removes water from the bottom of a boat

2 1.4

A small hand tool that you use to push air into bike tires

2 2.0

A machine at a gas station that fills cars with gasoline

vacuum pump
  • Specialized
2 3.6

A machine that removes air or gas from a closed space so there is almost no air left

1 4.0

A private room where mothers use a device to remove and store breast milk

hydraulic pump
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A machine that uses moving water or other liquid to move liquid higher and raise its pressure

suction pump
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A machine that pulls water up by removing some air above it

pump room
  • Archaic
1 7.6

A room at a spa where people drink mineral water and talk

pump priming
  • Specialized
1 6.7

Government spending to make the economy grow

pump priming
  • Specialized
1 6.5

Adding water to a machine that moves water so it seals and starts working

groundwater pump
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A machine that brings water up from underground

A woman's shoe with a medium heel and different colored toe and heel

1 2.4

A machine at a service station that pumps petrol into cars

1 9.5

A plan that uses false news to raise a stock price and sell shares, leaving other investors with losses

auxiliary pump
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A small machine that moves liquid to help the main pump when needed

donkey pump
  • Informal
1 8.1

An extra pump used when more water needs to be moved or the main one fails

centrifugal pump
  • Specialized
1 5.3

A machine that moves water or other liquid by spinning it and pushing it into a pipe

ion pump
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A machine that removes gas from a sealed space by using electricity to make gas stick to metal

force pump
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A machine that pushes water up and out under pressure

lift pump
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A machine that moves water from a lower place to a higher place

pump well
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A space in a ship's hold that protects the pumps

molecular pump
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A protein or tiny machine that uses energy to move ions across a cell membrane

condensation pump
  • Specialized
8.8

A device that makes a very strong vacuum by turning gas into liquid on cold surfaces

diffusion pump
  • Specialized
7.2

A machine that uses a jet of vapor to remove gas and make a very strong vacuum

eductor-jet pump
  • Specialized
9.9

A pump that uses a fast jet of water or steam to pull in and move another liquid

molecular pump
  • Specialized
7.0

A machine that removes gas from a closed space to make a very strong vacuum

Pliers with angled jaws you adjust to grip and turn nuts, bolts, or pipe fittings

8.4

Local political issues that focus on small community matters instead of national problems

parish-pump
  • Literature
9.9

Pays attention to small local political issues instead of national concerns

9.9

A focus on small local issues and interests instead of wider public needs

parish-pump debates
  • Literature
9.1

Discussions about small local issues that do not matter much outside the area

surgical suction pump
  • Specialized
4.6

A machine used during surgery to remove blood and other fluids from the body

surgical vacuum pump
  • Specialized
4.8

A machine used in surgery to remove blood, fluid, or tissue from the body

stirrup pump
  • Archaic
7.0

A small hand tool you set on the ground and use to spray water to fight small fires

A machine placed under water to move water up from a well

How Forceful

to pummel
46 6.7
to thump
47 3.4
to pump
49 2.3
to rock
141 1.0
to wiggle
77 1.0

Surface Forms

pump infinitive
pumped past
pumped past participle
pumping present participle
pumps third person singular

Etymology

Pump for moving something up and down comes from the picture of a pump's up-and-down action that forces liquid, so to pump your arms or legs is to move them back and forth strongly like that machine.