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Synonyms

speed bump

American  

noun

  1. a rounded ridge built crosswise into the pavement of a road or driveway to force vehicles to slow down.

Etymology

Origin of speed bump

First recorded in 1970–75

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.

Their steamroll hit a speed bump as they squandered opportunities in Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

Analysts last year said limited electrical power was the primary speed bump for new AI supercomputer construction in 2026 and beyond.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 2026

Our call of the day from Bank of America warns of a more cautious year ahead, owing to increasingly stressed consumers and a speed bump headed for AI.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 3, 2025

How dare the guy become a speed bump?

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2025

The bus bounced over a speed bump into the school driveway.

From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.