pimp
Americannoun
-
pimps
plural
verb (used without object)
-
pimps,
present (3rd person singular)
-
pimped,
past participle, past
-
pimping
present participle
-
to act as a pimp, soliciting customers for a prostitute or brothel in return for a share of the earnings.
-
to engage in promotion or publicizing.
She's used her blog before to pimp for her brother's band.
verb (used with object)
-
pimps,
present (3rd person singular)
-
pimped,
past participle, past
-
pimping
present participle
-
to act as a pimp for, procuring customers for a prostitute or brothel (sometimes followed byout ).
It won't be long before the so-called boyfriend starts pimping her out.
-
to promote; sell.
We'll send you albums and pimp your websites on ours.
-
to exploit.
You've been accused of pimping your friendships, using them as material for your novels.
-
to customize, modify, or decorate (a car or the like); deck out (sometimes followed by up or out):
My cousin pimped his lowrider with some wild hydraulics.
-
to make more appealing; rejuvenate; elevate; jazz up (sometimes followed by up or out): This article on pimping your skincare routine is all about buying new products.
The chef likes to pimp her burgers with a fried egg and truffle oil.
This article on pimping your skincare routine is all about buying new products.
noun
-
a man who solicits for a prostitute or brothel and lives off the earnings
-
a man who procures sexual gratification for another; procurer; pander
verb
-
(intr) to act as a pimp
-
slang (tr) to adapt or embellish in an ostentatious manner
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
pimpsimple
-
pimpssimple
-
have pimpedperfect
-
has pimpedperfect
-
am pimpingprogressive
-
are pimpingprogressive
-
is pimpingprogressive
-
have been pimpingperfect progressive
-
has been pimpingperfect progressive
Past
-
pimpedsimple
-
had pimpedperfect
-
was pimpingprogressive
-
were pimpingprogressive
-
had been pimpingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of pimp
First recorded in 1630–40; origin uncertain
Explanation
A pimp is someone who employs prostitutes — they work for the pimp, who gets a cut of their money. He pimps them. Pimp is a word that has greatly shifted in meaning, as it sometimes means "great" or "cool," as in "That bike is pimp!" However, that's a slang meaning that many people, especially adults, won't understand or like. The main meaning of pimp as the boss of prostitutes is pretty creepy, because prostitution is illegal and pimps are not known for treating their workers very nicely. For some reason, pimps are known for their flashy dress.
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.
See Examples For:
“When I was cast in ‘Zola,’ I thought, ‘Me, playing a pimp? What? In this dark comedy? What do you see in me?’” says Domingo.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 20, 2023
The Plummer brothers - Tremaine, Tristan and Twaine - opted for a mix of cravats and dicky bows to pimp up their navy blue suits.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2022
At 16, Aldrich was arrested with a 26-year-old female pimp and agreed to testify against the woman, believing that Sacramento County prosecutors would give her counseling and safe housing in exchange, she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2020
Don’t pimp your home runs or fist-pump your strikeouts.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 28, 2020
"That," said he, fixing his eye upon the pimp, "that is the very rascal I am in search of."
From Damon and Delia A Tale by William Godwin
Another bill, the Sex Trade Survivors Justice & Equality Act, would focus on punishing customers and pimps, in an attempt to strengthen current laws on sex trafficking.
From New York Times ● Jul. 23, 2021
“Anyone who pimps himself out to the M.E.K. fails the litmus test for integrity,” he said.
From The New Yorker ● Apr. 29, 2019
They invited the San Diego Union-Tribune to sit in as long as the volunteers weren't identified and their location kept secret, because every so often they catch the ire of johns and pimps.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 27, 2018
As George F. Will’s April 20 op-ed, “The battle against sex trafficking,” pointed out, pimps and traffickers target vulnerable children.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 24, 2017
Blacktown crawled with white people, with pimps, prostitutes, bootleggers, with hustlers of all kinds, with colorful characters, and with police and prohibition agents.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
There was his iconic bat raise, of course, which marked a stark break from character for someone who proudly claims to have “never pimped a home run.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2025
It could have been a scene from earlier wars, except it was pimped by technology.
From BBC ● May 16, 2022
Other looks in the collection included shearling-style jackets and oversized trousers with a chevron pattern, while some styles were pimped up with sequins, including a pair of baggy jeans.
From Reuters ● Mar. 9, 2021
Williams, another avid tailgater who hosts his own group, purchased a bus he calls “the Diesel” — pimped out with TVs inside to watch other NFL games and places to sit.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 22, 2017
Terrell gets dropped off by his brother Mike, who’s driving a pimped BMW with chromed-out rims and tinted windows.
From "Boy21" by Matthew Quick
For instance, Tate denies that he was pimping anyone and Carlson signs off on this view by scoffing, "How do you force someone to make TikTok videos?"
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2023
“I wasn’t pimping my home run,” Donaldson said.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 30, 2021
"I don't mind people pimping strikeouts and pimping stuff on the field. I've never been a player like that, but I don't mind it; I love it," Smith said, via ESPN.
From Fox News ● May 1, 2021
It needs to be part of a broader cultural transformation in policing that goes beyond "pimping the programme for publicity", he said.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2020
I detected no hint of lasciviousness in Bill’s voice or manner, certainly no element of pimping; no, he was simply trying to protect me.
From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin
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