verb
Meaning 1
To inflate by means of a pump.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: air up
Antonyms: none provided
Phrase guide
pump up
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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verb
Meaning 2
To inflate by means of a pump.
To do so with a pumping action.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
- For someone who is in shape, it is not difficult to pump up a car tire with a bicycle pump; it is merely tedious. But you can get the job done if you need it bad enough.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: air up
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 3
To excite a person or group to a frenzy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, transitive
Examples
- The singer has been pumping up the audience.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
To cause one's muscles to swell by means of focused weightlifting.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, transitive
Topics: bodybuilding, hobbies, lifestyle, sports
Examples
- I want to pump you up.
- He's gonna help me pump up.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 5
To cause (something) to increase in intensity, salience or other traits beyond what is reasonable.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
- You have to pump up the relatability of the characters in your screenplay.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 6
To increase the volume of (something).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
- pump up the jam
- pump up the jukebox
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
12 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Dutch: oppompen — to inflate by means of a pump
- Finnish: pumpata — to inflate by means of a pump
- French: gonfler — to inflate by means of a pump
- German: aufpumpen — to inflate by means of a pump
- Hungarian: felpumpál — to inflate by means of a pump
- Portuguese: bombear — to inflate by means of a pump
- Spanish: inflar — to inflate by means of a pump
- Finnish: pumpata — to inflate with a pumping action
- German: aufpumpen — to inflate with a pumping action
- Hungarian: felpumpál — to inflate with a pumping action
- Portuguese: bombear — to inflate with a pumping action
- Spanish: entusiasmar — to excite a person or group to a frenzy