thump

American  

[thuhmp] / θʌmp /

noun

• thumps
  plural

1. a blow with something thick and heavy, producing a dull sound; a heavy knock.

2. the sound made by or as if by such a blow.

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verb (used with object)

• thumps,
  present (3rd person singular)
• thumped,
  past participle,  past
• thumping
  present participle

1. to strike or beat with something thick and heavy, so as to produce a dull sound; pound.

2. (of an object) to strike against (something) heavily and noisily.

3. Informal. to thrash severely.

verb (used without object)

• thumps,
  present (3rd person singular)
• thumped,
  past participle,  past
• thumping
  present participle

1. to strike, beat, or fall heavily, with a dull sound.

2. to walk with heavy steps; pound.

3. to palpitate or beat violently, as the heart.

thump British  

/ θʌmp /

noun

1. the sound of a heavy solid body hitting or pounding a comparatively soft surface

2. a heavy blow with the hand

   he gave me a thump on the back

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verb

1. (tr) to strike or beat heavily; pound

2. (intr) to throb, beat, or pound violently

   his heart thumped with excitement

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• thumper
  noun
• unthumped
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• thumps
  plural

Participles

• thumping
  present
• thumped
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• thump
  simple
• thumps
  simple
• have thumped
  perfect
• has thumped
  perfect
• am thumping
  progressive
• are thumping
  progressive
• is thumping
  progressive
• have been thumping
  perfect progressive
• has been thumping
  perfect progressive

Past

• thumped
  simple
• had thumped
  perfect
• was thumping
  progressive
• were thumping
  progressive
• had been thumping
  perfect progressive

Future

• will thump
  simple
• will have thumped
  perfect
• will be thumping
  progressive
• will have been thumping
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of thump

First recorded in 1530–40; imitative

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Explanation

A thump is a hard, thudding sound, or an equally hard hit or blow, like the thump your older brother gives you when you embarrass him in front of his friends. If you drop your backpack full of books it'll make a thump as it hits the floor. And, if your friend starts to choke on his lemonade at lunch, you might want to give him a thump on the back. You can also thump enthusiastically on a drum. Thump is an imitative word, one that mimics the sound of hitting something heavily. It dates from the sixteenth century.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

thump thumps thumped thumping

“When the males interact with each other, you hear the thump thump thump of their paws.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

During those future flights, researchers will gather public feedback about the aircraft's quieter sonic "thump" and evaluate how people respond to it.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 1, 2026

Rangers' incredible fightback from two goals down to thump Falkirk 6-3 has put the spotlight even more on the possibility of Scotland's thrilling three-team title race being decided on goal difference.

From BBC ● Apr. 12, 2026

Moments later, a bass thump sounded in the distance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2026

Then I was traveling as the ship’s cat dropped with a thump upon the deck where I’d just been.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

Alcaraz turns around and thumps Sinner at the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 2026

In other videos we verified from the night of the fire, some people in the bar can be seen filming the flames as loud club music thumps in the background.

From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2026

Orbs of yellow light wash over plates of juicy chicken inasal; longtime friends catch up over handpicked wines as music thumps in the background.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2025

During the 31-song album, some of it lands like the fun drama of "Down Bad," which thumps against Antonoff's synthesizer.

From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2024

I love how the Spanish disco thumps out from windows, and how the people propped halfway out still jiggle and dance in the sill and frame.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Students cheered as they stacked rubbish bins against the entrance to a school outside Paris, while a speaker thumped out French rap to young people, teachers and parents mingling in the early morning drizzle.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

And Yamal hasn’t found the net since Spain thumped Saudi Arabia 4-0 in its second game.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

The Angels thumped the Colorado Rockies 11-4, but one good night cannot change the trajectory of a miserable season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026

An edgy 1-0 win over Austria kicked off the campaign before they thumped Northern Ireland and two-time winners Norway to top Group A.

From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2026

Eulie thumped the table loudly with both hands, which made me jump.

From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney

Coventry's previous home games had seen them fall to a 1-0 defeat by fellow promoted side Hull before a 5-0 thumping by Brighton.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

Brass bands pound out songs and pop anthems with thumping beats such as Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” and Robbie Williams’ “Angels” as thousands of voices roar along.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

As exit polls put the Alternative for Germany's vote share at a thumping 44 percent, jubilant scenes erupted at a post-election party in Magdeburg, capital of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.

From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026

However, and as a direct consequence, the Turbo feels instantly familiar—the initial lightness of the open door, and balanced swing on its hinges, the thumping affirmation of triple-seal door closures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026

What if Mrs. Brisbane lived in a scary house with spooky noises and a thumping ghost?

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney

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