goose bumps

American

[goos-buhmps] / ˈgusˌbʌmps /

Or goosebumps

plural noun

a rough condition of the skin, resembling that of a plucked goose, induced by cold or fear; horripilation.

First recorded in 1930–35

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I had goose bumps and thought, ‘This is what I love.’”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2025

"I had a lot of goose bumps watching it."

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2025

“I’m getting goose bumps remembering it,” Keenist said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2024

Some of the neurons responding to light contact might make you shiver and give you goose bumps.

From New York Times • Nov. 8, 2023

I’m getting goose bumps up my arms thinking about it.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023