1
a
: the basal portion of a bodily part remaining after the rest is removed
b
: a rudimentary or vestigial bodily part
2
: the part of a plant and especially a tree remaining attached to the root after the trunk is cut
3
: a remaining part : stub
4
: one of the pointed rods stuck in the ground to form a cricket wicket
5
: a place or occasion for public speaking (as for a cause or candidate)
also
: the circuit followed by a maker of such speeches
—used especially in the phrase on the stump
stumped; stumping; stumps
1
: to reduce to a stump : trim
3
: to clear (land) of stumps
4
: to travel over (a region) making political speeches or supporting a cause
5
a
: to walk over heavily or clumsily
b
1
: to walk heavily or clumsily
2
: to go about making political speeches or supporting a cause
stumper
noun
: a short thick roll of leather, felt, or paper usually pointed at both ends and used for shading or blending a drawing in crayon, pencil, charcoal, pastel, or chalk
stumped; stumping; stumps
: to tone or treat (a drawing) with a stump
Examples of stump in a Sentence
Verb (1)
the seemingly endless parade finally ended, and the drummers and tuba players stumped wearily to their buses
when my grandfather was a kid, he and his friends would stump one another to dive into the local swimming hole
Recent Examples on the Web
Zoe Gowen, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
All that’s left of the snook is a bloody stump.
—Bill Kearney, Miami Herald, 29 Dec. 2025
Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez, Charlotte Observer, 29 Dec. 2025
His winning streak came to an end during game five on July 8, when the final Jeopardy question about the Kennedy Center stumped all three contestants.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stump
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Noun
In this mountain home, interior designer Lauren Liess infused the living room with earthy color palettes and a tree-stump side table to create a cozy gathering space just as relaxed as the beautiful Blue Ridge setting.
—Zoe Gowen, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
All that’s left of the snook is a bloody stump.
—Bill Kearney, Miami Herald, 29 Dec. 2025
Verb
The unit earned two turnovers, stumped the Seahawks on their only attempt on fourth down and only allowed 289 total yards.
—Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez, Charlotte Observer, 29 Dec. 2025
His winning streak came to an end during game five on July 8, when the final Jeopardy question about the Kennedy Center stumped all three contestants.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stump
Cite this Entry
“Stump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stump. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stump
1 of 2 noun1
: the base of a bodily part (as an arm or leg) remaining after the rest is removed
2
: the part of a plant and especially a tree remaining attached to the root after the top is cut off
3
: a part (as of a pencil) remaining after the rest is worn away or lost : stub
4
: a place or occasion for political public speaking
stump
2 of 2 verb1
2
a
: to walk or walk over heavily or clumsily
3
: to go about making political speeches
stump the state for a candidate
stumper
noun
Etymology
Verb
probably an altered form of earlier stump (noun) "a challenge"
Medical Definition
stump
noun1
: the basal portion of a bodily part (as a limb) remaining after the rest is removed
2
: a rudimentary or vestigial bodily part
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