hump

American  

[huhmp] / hʌmp /

noun

1. 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.

2. Physical Geography.

   1. a low, rounded rise of ground; hummock.

   2. a mountain or mountain range.

3. 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.

4. Slang: Vulgar.

   1. an act or instance of sexual intercourse.

   2. a partner in sexual intercourse.

5. the hump,

   1. British Slang. a fit of depression or bad humor.

      to get the hump.

   2. (initial capital letter) (in World War II) the Himalayas.

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verb (used with object)

1. to raise (the back) in a hump; hunch.

   The cat humped its back.

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

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

4. Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with.

5. Slang.

   1. to place or bear on the back or shoulder.

   2. to carry or haul.

   3. to load or unload; lift.

verb (used without object)

1. to rise in a hump.

2. Informal. to exert oneself; hustle or hurry.

3. Slang: Vulgar. to engage in sexual intercourse.

idioms

1. 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.

hump British  

/ hʌmp /

noun

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

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

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

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

5. past the largest or most difficult portion of work, time, etc

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verb

1. to form or become a hump; hunch; arch

2. slang (tr) to carry or heave

3. slang to have sexual intercourse with (someone)

4. informal (of a tramp) to carry one's belongings from place to place on one's back

hump More Idioms  

1. see over the hump.

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Other Word Forms

• humper
  noun
• humpless
  adjective
• humplike
  adjective

Etymology

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)”

Example Sentences

INDIANAPOLIS—For 37 years, Michigan basketball just couldn’t get over the hump.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

I don’t know how you get over that hump.

From Slate • Dec. 4, 2025

“If the labor market is weakening, households are more dependent on the entirety of their refund to get them over the hump and allow them to continue their spending patterns,” Martin said.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 4, 2025

"But then it got to another, 3m along, and it was a hump again. And then it went another 3m - hump again."

From BBC • Jan. 2, 2025

My car goes over the hump at the exit and my lights flash over the windows of the Chili Bowl across the street.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy