Phrase guide

bump up

verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To increase something suddenly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To promote a person to a higher grade.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To give a more prominent place to; to advance position in queue.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To bump into something; to collide with something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • It bumps up on the wall here.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To figuratively collide with something; to come into conflict over something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • The legalization movement bumped up against political realities.
  • The program is bumping up on its fiscal cap.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To transfer (recorded footage) from a narrower to a wider tape format.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: broadcasting, media, television

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: bump down

7

verb

Meaning 7

increase or raise

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • OPEC bumped up the price of oil

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: raise

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: faire un bond — to increase something suddenly
  • Polish: podbijać — to increase something suddenly
  • Polish: podbić — to increase something suddenly
  • Polish: zwiększać — to increase something suddenly
  • Polish: zwiększyć — to increase something suddenly
  • Polish: podnosić — to increase something suddenly
  • Polish: podnieść — to increase something suddenly
  • Russian: увели́чивать (uvelíčivatʹ) — to increase something suddenly
  • Russian: повыша́ть (povyšátʹ) — to increase something suddenly
  • French: promouvoir — to promote a person to a higher grade
  • Polish: awansować — to promote a person to a higher grade
  • Russian: повыша́ть (povyšátʹ) — to promote a person to a higher grade
  • French: avancer — to give a more prominent place to
  • Polish: podwyższać — to give a more prominent place to
  • Polish: podwyższyć — to give a more prominent place to