bum

[ buhm ]

/ bʌm /

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See synonyms for: bum / bummed / bummer / bummest on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person who avoids work and sponges on others; loafer; idler.

a tramp, hobo, or derelict.

Informal. an enthusiast of a specific sport or recreational activity, especially one who gives it priority over work, family life, etc.: a ski bum; a tennis bum.

Informal. an incompetent person.

a drunken orgy; debauch.

verb (used with object), bummed, bum·ming.

Informal. to borrow without expectation of returning; get for nothing; cadge: He's always bumming cigarettes from me.

Slang. to ruin or spoil: The weather bummed our whole weekend.

verb (used without object), bummed, bum·ming.

to sponge on others for a living; lead an idle or dissolute life.

to live as a hobo.

adjective, bum·mer, bum·mest.

Slang. of poor, wretched, or miserable quality; unsatisfactory: I figured $300 was a bum deal for a minor repair, but I paid it anyway.

Slang. fraudulent or fake: He was accused of issuing a bum check for $2920.

Slang. disappointing; unpleasant.

Slang. erroneous or ill-advised; misleading: I think the gauge is giving me a bum readout.

Slang. physically disabled, impaired, or injured: a bum leg.

Verb Phrases

bum around, Informal. to travel, wander, or spend one's time aimlessly: We bummed around for a couple of hours after work.

OTHER WORDS FOR bum

2 vagabond, vagrant.

See synonyms for bum on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

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Idioms about bum

bum (someone) out, Slang. to disappoint, upset, or annoy: It really bummed me out that she could have helped and didn't.

on the bum, Informal.

living or traveling as or in a manner suggesting that of a hobo or tramp.
in a state of disrepair or disorder: The oven is on the bum again.

Origin of bum

An Americanism first recorded in 1860–65; perhaps a shortening of or back formation from bummer¹; adjective senses of unclear relation to sense “loafer” and perhaps of distinct origin

Other definitions for bum (2 of 2)

bum²

[ buhm ]

/ bʌm /

noun Chiefly British Slang.

the buttocks; rump.

Origin of bum

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bom; of uncertain origin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use bum in a sentence

After Gilliard met Ball, the two headed to Colorado and enjoyed life as ski bums, moving from resort to resort for a couple of years before eventually settling in Coeur d’Alene, and having a son.
States With Few Coronavirus Restrictions Are Spreading the Virus Beyond Their Borders|by David Armstrong|December 1, 2020|ProPublica
It also, frankly, bums me out that I don’t have more space at home to lay out a track.
Nintendo’s new RC Mario Kart looks terrific|Brian Heater|October 2, 2020|TechCrunch

British Dictionary definitions for bum (1 of 2)

bum¹

/ (bʌm) /

noun

British slang the buttocks or anus

Word Origin for bum

C14: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for bum (2 of 2)

bum²

/ (bʌm) informal /

noun

a disreputable loafer or idler

a tramp; hobo

an irresponsible, unpleasant, or mean person

a person who spends a great deal of time on a specified sportbaseball bum

on the bum

living as a loafer or vagrant
out of repair; broken

verb bums, bumming or bummed

(tr) to get by begging; cadgeto bum a lift

(intr often foll by around) to live by begging or as a vagrant or loafer

(intr usually foll by around) to spend time to no good purpose; loaf; idle

bum someone off US and Canadian slang to disappoint, annoy, or upset someone

adjective

(prenominal) of poor quality; useless

wrong or inappropriatea bum note

Word Origin for bum

C19: probably shortened from earlier bummer a loafer, probably from German bummeln to loaf

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with bum

bum

In addition to the idioms beginning with bum

bum around
bum out
bum rap
bum steer

also see:

on the blink (bum)

bum

OTHER WORDS FOR bum

Idioms about bum

Origin of bum

Other definitions for bum (2 of 2)

Origin of bum

Words related to bum

How to use bum in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bum (1 of 2)

Word Origin for bum

British Dictionary definitions for bum (2 of 2)

Word Origin for bum

Other Idioms and Phrases with bum