hump

[ huhmp ]

/ hʌmp /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: hump / humped / humping on Thesaurus.com

noun

a rounded protuberance, especially a fleshy protuberance on the back, as that due to abnormal curvature of the spine in humans, or that normally present in certain animals, as the camel or bison.

Physical Geography.

a low, rounded rise of ground; hummock.
a mountain or mountain range.

Railroads. (in a switchyard) a raised area down which cars pushed to its crest roll by gravity and momentum for automatic sorting through a series of preset switches.

Slang: Vulgar.

an act or instance of sexual intercourse.
a partner in sexual intercourse.

the hump,

British Slang. a fit of depression or bad humor: to get the hump.
(initial capital letter) (in World War II) the Himalayas.

verb (used with object)

to raise (the back) in a hump; hunch: The cat humped its back.

Railroads. to sort (cars) by means of a hump.

Informal. to exert (oneself) in a great effort.

Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with.

Slang.

to place or bear on the back or shoulder.
to carry or haul.
to load or unload; lift.

verb (used without object)

to rise in a hump.

Informal. to exert oneself; hustle or hurry.

Slang: Vulgar. to engage in sexual intercourse.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about hump

over the hump, past the most difficult, time-consuming, or dangerous part or period: The doctor says she's over the hump now and should improve steadily.

Origin of hump

First recorded in 1700–10; probably abstracted from humpbacked; akin to Frisian hompe “lump, chunk,” Dutch homp “lump, chunk,” Middle Low German hump “bump,” Norwegian dialect hupp, hump “flank (of an animal),” or Low German humpel, hümpel “height, knob, hump (of a camel)”

OTHER WORDS FROM hump

humper, nounhumpless, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hump in a sentence

It’s likely many more will die before we’re finally over the hump.
“We did the worst job in the world”: Lawrence Wright on America’s botched Covid-19 response|Sean Illing|February 9, 2021|Vox
But I knew Chris, the first time I saw him was when he was so insane in Wet Hot American Summer and he was humping refrigerators.
‘Surviving Jack’ Star Rachael Harris Is No Longer ‘The Bitch'|Kevin Fallon|March 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He makes sand sculptures of naked women on the beach before humping them like a man possessed.
Why Joaquin Phoenix, Who Wows in ‘Her,’ Is the Greatest Actor Alive|Marlow Stern|December 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But instead of dry-humping the art world, Kanye is planting his music in the richly fertile soil of religion and fashion.
From Lady Gaga To Jay-Z, “Serious” Art Is Ruining Pop Music|James Poulos|November 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST

We were doing all that heavy petting and humping and kissing and he got me with that line, “Just let me put the head in.”
How 10 Porn Stars Lost Their Virginity|Aurora Snow|May 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Walking past a chalet on the way home, I heard the moaning of people humping.
My Parents' Brothel|Douglas Rogers|December 6, 2009|DAILY BEAST
"I ought to have been humping over a desk from the start," regretted Mr. Strumley, feeling his bulging biceps dolefully.
Golden Stories|Various
The beast was standing in one corner, even more meditative than is usual with cows, hanging her head and humping her back.
Mrs. Craddock|W. Somerset Maugham
There was a dull thud, a quadrupedal humping, an undulation along the spine of that cow—and the stage-coach was out of sight.
A Breeze from the Woods, 2nd Ed.|William Chauncey Bartlett
Then you bet it won't be long before the old crowd will be coming down just a humping.
Marion's Faith.|Charles King
The ape was humping himself on the tail-board, and from his expression he might have been wondering how long all this would last.
Waiting for Daylight|Henry Major Tomlinson

British Dictionary definitions for hump

hump

/ (hʌmp) /

noun

a rounded protuberance or projection, as of earth, sand, etc

pathol a rounded deformity of the back in persons with kyphosis, consisting of a convex spinal curvature

a rounded protuberance on the back of a camel or related animal

the hump British informal a fit of depression or sulking (esp in the phrase it gives me the hump)

over the hump past the largest or most difficult portion of work, time, etc

verb

to form or become a hump; hunch; arch

(tr) British slang to carry or heave

slang to have sexual intercourse with (someone)

hump one's swag Australian and NZ informal (of a tramp) to carry one's belongings from place to place on one's back

Derived forms of hump

humplike, adjective

Word Origin for hump

C18: probably from earlier humpbacked

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 hump

hump

see over the hump.

hump

Idioms about hump

Origin of hump

OTHER WORDS FROM hump

Words related to hump

How to use hump in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hump

Derived forms of hump

Word Origin for hump

Other Idioms and Phrases with hump