vamp

¹ American  

[vamp] / væmp /

noun

1. the portion of a shoe or boot upper that covers the instep and toes.

2. something patched up or pieced together.

3. Jazz. an accompaniment, usually improvised, consisting of a succession of simple chords.

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verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with a vamp, especially to repair (a shoe or boot) with a new vamp.

2. to patch up; repair.

3. to give (something) a new appearance by adding a patch or piece.

4. to concoct or invent (often followed byup ).

   He vamped up a few ugly rumors to discredit his enemies.

5. Jazz. to improvise (an accompaniment or the like).

verb (used without object)

1. Jazz. to improvise an accompaniment, tune, etc.

vamp ² American  

[vamp] / væmp /

noun

1. a seductive woman who uses her sensuality to exploit men.

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verb (used with object)

1. to use feminine charms upon; seduce.

verb (used without object)

1. to act as a vamp.

vamp ¹ British  

/ væmp /

noun

1. something patched up to make it look new

2. the reworking of a theme, story, etc

3. an improvised accompaniment, consisting largely of chords

4. the front part of the upper of a shoe

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verb

1. to give a vamp to; make a renovation of

2. to improvise (an accompaniment) to (a tune)

vamp ² British  

/ væmp /

noun

1. a seductive woman who exploits men by use of her sexual charms

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verb

1. to exploit (a man) in the fashion of a vamp

Other Word Forms

• vamper noun
• vampish adjective

Etymology

Origin of vamp¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English va(u)mpe, wamp(e), from Anglo-French; Middle French avant-pie, equivalent to avant- “fore-” + pie “foot” ( French pied); avaunt, -ped

Origin of vamp²

First recorded in 1905–10; short for vampire

Example Sentences

The former Australian Paralympic swimmer wanted to vamp up her headshot and uploaded a full-length photo of her and prompted it really specifically that she was missing her left arm from below the elbow.

From BBC • Oct. 14, 2025

“My Mistake” relies on a more synthetic pop sound, but its swooping melody gives her more room to vamp.

From New York Times • Jun. 26, 2023

The show went so smoothly that it ran 20 minutes short, and Lewis, the host again, had to vamp desperately to try to hit the TV network’s scheduled “out.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2023

Why they're a standout: Sure, Kirsten Dunst played the scene-stealing child vamp in the big-screen version of Anne Rice's novel, but Bass makes this Claudia her own.

From Salon • Dec. 26, 2022

Then she dodged away, and I had to chase her around the cairn, both of us laughing, Emma ducking out of view only to pop up again and vamp for the camera.

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

Related Words

• enchantress
• seductress
• temptress