thud
Americannoun
-
a dull sound, as of a heavy blow or fall.
-
a blow causing such a sound.
verb (used without object)
noun
-
a dull heavy sound
the book fell to the ground with a thud
-
a blow or fall that causes such a sound
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has thuddedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have thuddedperfect
-
is thuddingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
am thuddingprogressive 1st person singular
-
has been thuddingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
have been thuddingperfect progressive
-
are thuddingprogressive
-
thuddingparticiple
-
thudssingular 3rd person
Past
-
had thuddedperfect
-
was thuddingprogressive singular
-
thuddedsimple
-
had been thuddingperfect progressive
-
were thuddingprogressive plural
-
thuddedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of thud
1505–15; imitative; compare Middle English thudden, Old English thyddan to strike, press
Explanation
To thud is to make the loud sound of something heavy hitting or falling. Tip your chair too far back and your body may thud against the floor. Throw an egg off a balcony onto the pavement below, and it will splat, but throw a heavy dumbbell off the same balcony and it will thud — you can call the sound it makes a thud as well. The verb originally meant "to strike, stab, or thrust," from the Old English imitative word þyddan, and the noun was used to mean "blast of wind" in the early sixteenth century.
Vocabulary lists containing thud
"The Pedestrian" by Ray Bradbury
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Shiloh
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Subtle Knife
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She never even got to clunk and thud her way through any farmhouses or laboratories like a bewigged bull in a china shop.
From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026
One interview with talk-radio show “LBC” was interrupted when air defenses intercepted another Iranian attack with an audible thud.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026
This one feels like it probably sounded really funny and smart at the table read, but it landed with a thud for the audience because the premise was so muddled.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026
"Ross stayed awake one night listening to the 'ping ping ping' of the smaller stones coming down but the bigger ones - you really hear them thud," she said.
From BBC • Feb. 10, 2026
He knew he slept with one ear cocked for the pell-mell thud of feet overhead, and the cry, “All hands on deck!”
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
