1
2
British
: crankcase
3
[German Sumpf, literally, marsh, from Middle High German — more at swamp]
a
: the lowest part of a mine shaft into which water drains
b
: an excavation ahead of regular work in driving a mine tunnel or sinking a mine shaft
4
: something resembling a sump : sink sense 2
Examples of sump in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The sewage would then be ground up by a pump inside the sump and lifted up 8 feet or so to dump into the elevated building drain.
—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Basement waterproofing, drain tile, or sump documentation including installation dates and warranty information.
—
Allison Palmer
updated February 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
It was upgraded with a lightweight OHV aluminum head, dual Weber carburetors and a dry-sump oil system.
—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
13 Feb. 2026
Batteries buy breathing room; fuel generators buy runtime and the startup watts needed for motors like sump and well pumps.
—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sump
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Basement waterproofing, drain tile, or sump documentation including installation dates and warranty information.
—
Allison Palmer
updated February 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
It was upgraded with a lightweight OHV aluminum head, dual Weber carburetors and a dry-sump oil system.
—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
13 Feb. 2026
Batteries buy breathing room; fuel generators buy runtime and the startup watts needed for motors like sump and well pumps.
—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sump
Cite this Entry
“Sump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sump. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sump
noun
: a pit or reservoir serving as a container or as a drain for liquids
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
