Standard Lemma guide

thump

noun · verb · 14 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /θʌmp/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ʌmp
  • UK: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: TH AH1 M P Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A blow that produces a muffled sound.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The sound of such a blow; a thud.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Used to replace the vulgar or blasphemous element in "what the hell" and similar phrases.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: colloquial, dated, euphemistic

Examples

  • Where the thump have you been?!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Synonym of bump (“sudden movement of underground strata”).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business, mining

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bump

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To hit (someone or something) as if to make a thump.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To cause to make a thumping sound.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The cat thumped its tail in irritation.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To thud or pound.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To throb with a muffled rhythmic sound.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Dance music thumped from the nightclub entrance.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

(of a rabbit) to hit the ground with the back legs to signal agitation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

a heavy blow with the hand

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: blow

11

noun

Meaning 11

a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: thumping, clump, clunk, thud

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sound

12

verb

Meaning 12

hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the salesman pounded the door knocker
  • a bible-thumping Southern Baptist

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pound, poke

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: hit

13

verb

Meaning 13

move rhythmically

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Her heart was beating fast

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: beat, pound

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: move

Narrower terms: pulsate, throb, pulse, palpitate, flutter, thrash, flap

14

verb

Meaning 14

make a dull sound

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the knocker thudded against the front door

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: thud

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sound, go

History

Etymology

Mid 16th century, probably imitative.

Across languages

Translations

62 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: kumautus — blow
  • Finnish: jysäytys — blow
  • French: coup sourd — blow
  • German: dumpfer Schlag — blow
  • Irish: tump — blow
  • Italian: tonfo — blow
  • Polish: cios — blow
  • Polish: walnięcie — blow
  • Russian: глухо́й уда́р (gluxój udár) — blow
  • Spanish: golpe sordo — blow
  • Swedish: dunk — blow
  • Dutch: bons — sound
  • Dutch: dof — sound
  • Finnish: tömähdys — sound
  • Finnish: jysähdys — sound
  • Finnish: kumahdus — sound
  • Finnish: kumaus — sound
  • German: dumpf — sound
  • Irish: tuairt — sound
  • Italian: tonfo — sound
  • Polish: tąpnięcie — sound
  • Polish: łomot — sound
  • Romanian: sunet înăbușit — sound
  • Russian: глухо́й уда́р (gluxój udár) — sound
  • Spanish: ruido sordo — sound
  • Swedish: dunk — sound
  • Finnish: tömäyttää — to hit someone or something so as to make a thump
  • Finnish: jysäyttää — to hit someone or something so as to make a thump
  • Finnish: jymäyttää — to hit someone or something so as to make a thump
  • Irish: gread — to hit someone or something so as to make a thump
  • Italian: colpire — to hit someone or something so as to make a thump
  • Māori: ngahoa — to hit someone or something so as to make a thump
  • Polish: bachnąć — to hit someone or something so as to make a thump
  • Serbo-Croatian: bubnuti — to hit someone or something so as to make a thump
  • Spanish: golpear — to hit someone or something so as to make a thump
  • Spanish: azotar — to hit someone or something so as to make a thump
  • Swedish: dunka — to hit someone or something so as to make a thump
  • Tamil: குற்று (kuṟṟu) — to hit someone or something so as to make a thump
  • Finnish: jysähtää — to thud or pound
  • Finnish: tömähtää — to thud or pound
  • Italian: colpire — to thud or pound
  • Māori: tākurukuru — to thud or pound
  • Polish: łomotać — to thud or pound
  • Polish: walić — to thud or pound
  • Polish: stąpać — to thud or pound
  • Scottish Gaelic: buail — to thud or pound
  • Serbo-Croatian: bubnuti — to thud or pound
  • Spanish: golpear — to thud or pound
  • Spanish: azotar — to thud or pound
  • Tamil: குற்று (kuṟṟu) — to thud or pound
  • Tamil: அவை (avai) — to thud or pound
  • Finnish: jyskyä — to throb with a muffled rhythmic sound
  • Finnish: jyskyttää — to throb with a muffled rhythmic sound
  • French: tambouriner — to throb with a muffled rhythmic sound
  • Māori: tākurukuru — to throb with a muffled rhythmic sound
  • Māori: pākōkō — to throb with a muffled rhythmic sound
  • Polish: dudnić — to throb with a muffled rhythmic sound
  • Polish: tętnić — to throb with a muffled rhythmic sound
  • Serbo-Croatian: bubati — to throb with a muffled rhythmic sound
  • Spanish: tamborilear — to throb with a muffled rhythmic sound
  • Spanish: golpetear — to throb with a muffled rhythmic sound
  • Swedish: dunka — to throb with a muffled rhythmic sound