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thumping

thumping

16 2.9
A heavy, dull sound made when two objects hit each other
  • noun
  • /ˈθʌmpɪŋ/
translation icon : golpeteo
  • When she hears a strange thumping sound in the great hall, she freezes.

The space fills with sounds and clashes and thumping and yelling.

Examples

  • The pristine Maryland morning was interrupted by a dull thumping noise in the distance.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • There's a sound upstairs of thumping, as if someone has fallen to the floor.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • I began to read, but a thumping began upstairs, and then there was a cry.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Suddenly, there was a thumping, as of something hauled slowly up from step to step.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Before he can continue, the crowd begins to murmur with fear as the thumping grows louder and closer.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Then I hear the scraping and thumping of something that hasn't hardly room enough to turn around.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The silence was broken only by the gentle thumping of Duffy's tail against my loafer.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Listening carefully, Teresa made out rhythmic thumping sounds and a faint splash.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The shoes made a hollow thumping sound on the floor, and the britches swished softly.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The pristine Maryland morning was interrupted by a dull thumping noise in the distance.

Synonyms

thud
vsthumping
81 2.2

A heavy, dull sound made when something hits or falls

is the broader class for that impact sound beyond single events
pounding
vsthumping
72 2.9

A series of strong, repeated hits or beats

is the single heavy dull impact rather than repeated hits
thump
vsthumping
49 3.0

A heavy dull sound something makes when it hits a surface

is the general sound type rather than highlighting the forceful blow
clunk
vsthumping
8 6.0

A heavy, dull sound made when something hits a hard surface

is the same meaning but exists as an alternative form
thunk
vsthumping
5 8.9

A dull hollow sound when something heavy hits a surface

is a heavier denser impact sound rather than a hollow tone
whomp
vsthumping
  • US
1 8.1

A loud heavy sound when something hits or falls

is the same sound but with less emphasis on loud force
clump
vsthumping
1 4.4

A heavy, dull sound that something makes when it falls or hits the ground

is the general impact sound not specifically tied to footsteps
clunker
vsthumping
1 5.4

A heavy dull sound that a hard object makes when it is hit or dropped

is the sound itself and not the object causing it

Antonyms

660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

45 1.0

A calm time with little or no sound

How Loud

boom
195 2.1
bang
237 1.3
thumping
16 2.9

Surface Forms

thumping singular
thumpings plural

Morphology

thumping = thump (transparent) = thump + ing

The noun directly refers to the act or result of thumping, so the meaning is easy to derive from the verb base plus -ing.

Etymology

Thumping comes from the sound word thump, which copies the heavy noise made by a strong hit, like a drum or a fist on a door. So a thumping is a deep, dull sound you both hear and feel, which matches the noun meaning.