plump

¹ American  

[pluhmp] / plʌmp /

adjective

plumper, plumpest

1. well filled out or rounded in form; somewhat fleshy or fat.

   Synonyms:

   rotund, portly

   Antonyms:

   thin

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verb (used without object)

1. to become plump (often followed by up orout ).

   Synonyms:

   fatten

verb (used with object)

1. to make plump (often followed by up orout ).

   to plump up the sofa pillows.

   Synonyms:

   fatten

plump ² American  

[pluhmp] / plʌmp /

verb (used without object)

1. to drop or fall heavily or suddenly; come down abruptly or with direct impact.

2. Chiefly British. to vote exclusively for one candidate in an election, instead of distributing or splitting one's votes among a number.

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verb (used with object)

1. to drop or throw heavily or suddenly (often followed bydown ).

   He plumped himself down and fell asleep.

2. to utter or say bluntly (often followed byout ).

   She plumps out the truth at the oddest times.

3. to praise or extol.

   road signs plumping the delights of a new candy bar.

noun

1. a heavy or sudden fall.

2. the sound resulting from such a fall.

adverb

1. with a heavy or sudden fall or drop.

2. directly or bluntly, as in speaking.

3. in a vertical direction; straight down.

4. with sudden encounter.

5. with direct impact.

adjective

1. direct; downright; blunt.

   Days after being accused, they met the charge with a plump denial.

verb phrase

1. plump for to support enthusiastically; be wholeheartedly in favor of.

   to plump for a team.

plump ³ American  

[pluhmp] / plʌmp /

noun

Chiefly British Dialect.

1. a group or cluster.

2. a flock.

   a plump of ducks.

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plump ¹ British  

/ plʌmp /

verb

1. to drop or fall suddenly and heavily

   to plump down on the sofa

2. to give support (to) or make a choice (of) one out of a group or number

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noun

1. a heavy abrupt fall or the sound of this

adverb

1. suddenly or heavily

   he ran plump into the old lady

2. straight down; directly

   the helicopter landed plump in the middle of the field

adjective

1. in a blunt, direct, or decisive manner

plump ² British  

/ plʌmp /

adjective

1. well filled out or rounded; fleshy or chubby

   a plump turkey

2. bulging, as with contents; full

   a plump wallet

3. (of amounts of money) generous; ample

   a plump cheque

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verb

1. to make or become plump

   to plump up a pillow

plump ³ British  

/ plʌmp /

noun

1. archaic a group of people, animals, or things; troop; cluster

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Related Words

See stout.

Other Word Forms

• plumply
  adverb
• plumpness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of plump¹

First recorded in 1475–85; earlier plompe “dull, rude,” from Middle Dutch plomp “blunt, squat”; cognate with Middle Low German plump “uneducated, clumsy”

Origin of plump²

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English verb plumpen “to plunge into water, dive,” cognate with Dutch plompen; probably imitative

Origin of plump³

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English plump; origin unknown

Explanation

Something that's plump has a nice round shape. You could describe watching your plump little cousin eating one plump grape after another. Objects and people can both be described as plump, as long as they're full or round or chubby. Though some people might be offended by being called plump, it's meant to describe an appealing roundness. And when you plump something, you pat or shake it so that it becomes fuller: "Let me plump those pillows on the bed while you tuck the sheets in."

Example Sentences

Briany, with her plump cheeks and full head of dark hair, wasn’t normally this fussy.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

So dad ended up with more asset wealth, including plump IRA accounts that were created midway through his working years.

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

Footage has shown militia members—men and women; often elderly, slightly plump Venezuelans—running obstacle courses, crawling under barbed wire and firing rifles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025

In short, collagen helps to keep our skin plump, our joints and bones strong, and our hair and nails healthy.

From BBC • Sep. 27, 2025

But rows of fat hens roosted contentedly in their roosting boxes, with their red-combed heads nestled into their plump bodies.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• chunky
• fleshy
• pudgy
• well-fed