stump
noun
the lower end of a tree or plant left after the main part falls or is cut off; a standing tree trunk from which the upper part and branches have been removed.
had stumped
-
past perfectof stump.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Grady had stumped for Brown’s Senate bid last year, when Brown came in second place to former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt in the GOP primary.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 8, 2023
At first, Bowman, a computer scientist at New York University, thought he had stumped the models.
From Science Magazine ● May 5, 2022
Reigning NL MVP had stumped for the Phillies to sign Schwarber.
From Fox News ● Mar. 16, 2022
The only man arriving in Chicago who had stumped his way across America was Sen. Eugene McCarthy, who had carried the antiwar banner all year.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 24, 2018
He ran a hand over the top of his head, a tic of his that meant a student’s question had stumped him more than usual.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
