1
as in bobs
to make short up-and-down movements
the thighs of the bicyclists were pumping furiously as they neared the finish line
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in interrogates
to put a series of questions to
prying neighbors pumped the guileless child for information about the family's new pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in drains
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely
pumped water from the well
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pumps
Cardiac output—how much blood the heart pumps per minute—is strong, and the heart muscle is highly efficient.
—
Lauryn Higgins, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
The water sits in a small reservoir and the electric motor pumps it out.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025
Chrissy Teigen stepped into one of fall’s clearest color stories this week, pairing Tom Ford’s Satin Eva d’Orsay pumps with a monochrome look in New York on Tuesday.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Victor Sanchez pumps gas into his truck on August 28, 2025, in Mill Valley, California.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Vince Camuto Sindree Pump If Roberts’ brown pointed-toe heels caught your eye, these Vince Camuto pumps showcase a similar aesthetic.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Seconds later, Prater pumps Batista with five bullets.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
The premium Beats Audio system in the Jetta GLI pumps 400 W through nine speakers, including a subwoofer.
—ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2025
In an evaporative cooling system, pumps push cold water through pipes in the data center.
—Melissa Scanlan, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2025
Lauryn Higgins, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
The water sits in a small reservoir and the electric motor pumps it out.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025
Chrissy Teigen stepped into one of fall’s clearest color stories this week, pairing Tom Ford’s Satin Eva d’Orsay pumps with a monochrome look in New York on Tuesday.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Victor Sanchez pumps gas into his truck on August 28, 2025, in Mill Valley, California.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Vince Camuto Sindree Pump If Roberts’ brown pointed-toe heels caught your eye, these Vince Camuto pumps showcase a similar aesthetic.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Seconds later, Prater pumps Batista with five bullets.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
The premium Beats Audio system in the Jetta GLI pumps 400 W through nine speakers, including a subwoofer.
—ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2025
In an evaporative cooling system, pumps push cold water through pipes in the data center.
—Melissa Scanlan, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pumps
Verb
-
The reader bobs along in the author’s stream of consciousness, riding crests of despair, anger, and hilarity as Toews assembles the shards of her past to investigate her will to write, which is deeply entwined with her will to live.—
Kristen Martin,
The Atlantic,
27 Aug. 2025
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But sometimes even icons need to switch things up a bit—cue the dizzying array of flippy waves, shags, and bobs over the years.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Pierre Michel Jean’s TTFF title Oblivion interrogates anti-Blackness in Dominican society.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Made in Africa is a monthly column by Rolling Stone staff writer Mankaprr Conteh that celebrates and interrogates the lives, concerns, and innovations of cultural workers of the African diaspora from their vantage point.—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Rolling Stone,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Reopening is dependent on how well the area drains.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Put It Into Practice Be specific about your current situation, including what energizes and drains you.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Noah Cameron shakes off rocky 1st inning Sunday didn’t start well for Royals rookie starter Noah Cameron.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 Sep. 2025
-
One team member gets to see an object in a box, then the other team members have to guess what that person saw, using only facial expressions (no nods or head shakes) as clues.—
Matthew Jackson,
Vulture,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The report also examines platforms that go beyond simple scriptural guidance.—
Benj Edwards,
ArsTechnica,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Now 70 years later, Lolita is still a source of fascination for scholars and readers alike — and a new anniversary edition of the novel examines its legacy up front.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Williams, 45, taps into real-life events for a star turn in Dying for Sex.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
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But Martin clearly loves playing a style that naturally taps into the type of game he’s always featured.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Mare struggles with family issues and a town that questions her ability as a detective, after a year-long investigation into the disappearance of another girl continues to go unsolved.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
However, Morrow questions whether a National Guard deployment is the answer to solving the city’s lingering crime.—
Asher Redd,
FOXNews.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Flank steak grills beautifully and offers natural temperature variation across the cut for different preferences.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
21 Aug. 2025
-
This mom-and-pop shop grills pork and chicken Filipino barbecue on skewers.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pumps. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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