Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense thumps, present participle thumping, past tense, past participle thumped
1. verb
If you thump something, you hit it hard, usually with your fist.
He thumped my shoulder affectionately, nearly knocking me over. [VERB noun]
I heard you thumping on the door. [VERB + on]
Synonyms: strike, hit, punch, pound More Synonyms of thump
Thump is also a noun.
He felt a thump on his shoulder. [+ on]
2. verb
If you thump someone, you attack them and hit them with your fist.
[mainly British, informal]
Don't say it serves me right or I'll thump you. [VERB noun]
3. verb
If you thump something somewhere or if it thumps there, it makes a loud, dull sound by hitting something else.
She thumped her hand on the witness box. [VERB noun preposition]
Waiters went scurrying down the aisles, thumping down tureens of soup. [VERB noun with adverb]
...paving stones and bricks which have been thumping down on police shields and helmets. [VERB preposition/adverb]
She dashed out through the door, her stockinged feet thumping softly as she ran upthe stairs. [VERB]
Where's that thumping noise coming from? [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: thud, crash, bang, thwack More Synonyms of thump
Thump is also a noun.
There was a loud thump as the horse crashed into the van.
4. verb
When your heart thumps, it beats strongly and quickly, usually because you are afraid or excited.
My heart was thumping wildly but I didn't let my face show any emotion. [VERB]
5. See also thumping
More Synonyms of thump
thump in British English
(θʌmp)
noun
1.
the sound of a heavy solid body hitting or pounding a comparatively soft surface
2.
a heavy blow with the hand
she gave me a thump on the back
verb
3. (transitive)
to strike or beat heavily; pound
4. (intransitive)
to throb, beat, or pound violently
his heart thumped with excitement
Derived forms
thumper (ˈthumper)
noun
Word origin
C16: related to Icelandic, Swedish dialect dumpa to thump; see thud, bump
thump in American English
(θʌmp)
noun
1.
a blow with something heavy and blunt, as with a cudgel
2.
the dull sound made by such a blow
verb transitive
3.
to strike with a thump or thumps
4.
a.
to thrash; beat severely
b.
to defeat decisively
verb intransitive
5.
to hit or fall with a thump
6.
to make a dull, heavy sound; pound; throb
Derived forms
thumper (ˈthumper)
noun
Word origin
echoic
Examples of 'thump' in a sentence
thump
I turn to my left and spot a silhouette of a fin in the depths; my heart is thumping.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Her thrashing solo builds into a tantrum, fists and feet thumping the floor, only for her colleagues to glide across the stage like the coolest of cats.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Her heart thumped wildly as she was welcomed by familiar faces.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
But now my little heart is thumping with joy.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The doors thumped shut behind her.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The dull thump of booted feet slamming into my soft, fleshy parts.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He struck back, a thump on the head hard enough to knock the sense out of her.
Christina Dodd SOMEDAY MY PRINCE (1999)
THE pounding thump of the kick drum.
The Sun (2011)
I came flying from the back seat and thumped my head on the windscreen.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
A person does not take one emotional thump in the face and willingly put himself up for more.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I got round to stop him doing it and he managed to open the door and thumped me.
The Sun (2014)
Ragnor gave a quick thump upon the door of the lord's chamber and pushed it open on the sleeping couple.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
It lands on deck, straight out, with a heavy thump.
Oxenhorn, Harvey Tuning the Rig: A Journey to the Arctic (1990)
She's got a filthy mouth and doesn't think twice about thumping me hard.
The Sun (2016)
In other languages
thump
British English: thump /θʌmp/ VERB
If you thump something, you hit it hard, usually with your fist.
He thumped my shoulder affectionately, nearly knocking me over.
I heard you thumping on the door.
American English: thump
Arabic: يَطْرُقُ
Brazilian Portuguese: pancada
Chinese: 重击
Croatian: udarati
Czech: praštit
Danish: dunke
Dutch: dreunen
European Spanish: aporrear
Finnish: tömähdys
French: cogner
German: schlagen
Greek: βαριοχτυπώ
Italian: battere
Japanese: ゴツンと打つ
Korean: 탁 치다
Norwegian: banke (på)
Polish: uderzyć
European Portuguese: pancada
Romanian: a lovi tare
Russian: глухой звук
Latin American Spanish: aporrear
Swedish: dunka
Thai: ทุบ
Turkish: güm güm vurmak
Ukrainian: бити
Vietnamese: đập thùm thụp
Chinese translation of 'thump'
thump
(θʌmp)
n(c)
(= blow) 重击(擊) (zhòngjī)
(= sound) 砰的一声(聲) (pēng de yī shēng)
vt
(esp Brit, inf, = hit)[person]揍 (zòu)
[object, table]撞击(擊) (zhuàngjī)
vi
to thump on sth撞击(擊)某物 (zhuàngjī mǒuwù)
[heart etc]砰砰作响(響) (pēngpēng zuò xiǎng)
1 (noun)
Definition
a heavy blow with the hand
He felt a thump on his shoulder.
Synonyms
blow
He went off to hospital after a blow to the face.
knock
He had taken a knock on the head in training.
punch
He's asking for a punch on the nose.
rap
There was a light rap on the door.
smack
I end up shouting at him or giving him a smack.
clout (informal)
I was half tempted to give them a clout myself.
whack
He gave the tree trunk a whack with the axe.
swipe (informal)
He gave Andrew a swipe on the ear.
wallop (informal)
With a single wallop, Clarke sent him flying.
2 (noun)
Definition
the sound of something heavy hitting a comparatively soft surface
There was a loud thump as the horse crashed into the van.
Synonyms
thud
She tripped and fell with a sickening thud.
crash
Two people in the flat recalled hearing a loud crash about 1.30am.
bang
I heard four or five loud bangs.
clunk
thwack
a sharp thwack across the arm that left fingermarks for ages
1 (verb)
Definition
to hit or punch (someone)
He thumped me, nearly knocking me over.
Synonyms
strike
She took two steps forward and struck him across the mouth.
hit
She hit him hard across his left arm.
punch
After punching him on the chin, she hit him over the head.
pound
He pounded the table with his fist.
beat
He lost the boxing match and was badly beaten by his opponent.
knock
He was mucking around and he knocked her in the stomach.
deck (slang)
batter
He battered his opponent around the head.
rap
A guard raps his stick on a metal hand rail.
chin (slang)
smack
She smacked me on the side of the head.
thrash
He was thrashed with a cane until his skin turned red.
clout (informal)
The officer clouted him on the head.
whack
Someone whacked him on the head.
swipe
clobber (slang)
She clobbered him with a vase.
wallop (informal)
She walloped me over the head with a cushion.
lambast(e)
belabour
Men began to belabour his shoulders with sticks.
lay one on (slang)
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to place (something) on or bang against (something) with a loud dull sound
She thumped her hand on the witness box.
Synonyms
thud
She ran upstairs, her bare feet thudding on the wood.
crash
bang
The engine spat and banged.
thwack
He just thwacked me on the back of the head with a ruler.
3 (verb)
Definition
to throb or beat violently
My heart was thumping wildly.
Synonyms
throb
His head throbbed.
pound
I'm sweating and my heart is pounding.
beat
I felt my heart beat faster.
pulse
Her feet pulsed with pain.
pulsate
The racing beat of her heart pulsated under my fingertips.
palpitate
His whole body was palpitating with fear.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bang
Definition
a short loud explosive noise, such as the report of a gun
I heard four or five loud bangs.
Synonyms
explosion,
report,
shot,
pop,
clash,
crack,
blast,
burst,
boom,
slam,
discharge,
thump,
clap,
thud,
clang,
peal,
detonation
in the sense of bang
Definition
to make or cause to make a loud noise, as of an explosion
The engine spat and banged.
Synonyms
resound,
beat,
crash,
burst,
boom,
echo,
drum,
explode,
thunder,
thump,
throb,
thud,
clang
in the sense of batter
Definition
to hit repeatedly
He battered his opponent around the head.
Synonyms
beat,
hit,
strike,
knock,
assault,
smash,
punch,
belt (informal),
deck (slang),
bang,
bash (informal),
lash,
thrash,
pound,
lick (informal),
buffet,
flog,
maul,
pelt,
clobber (slang),
smite,
wallop (informal),
pummel,
tonk (informal),
cudgel,
thwack,
lambast(e),
belabour,
dash against,
beat the living daylights out of,
lay one on (slang),
drub,
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
Synonyms of 'thump'
thump
Explore 'thump' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of beat
Definition
to strike with a series of violent blows
He lost the boxing match and was badly beaten by his opponent.
Synonyms
batter,
break,
hit,
strike,
knock,
punch,
belt (informal),
whip,
deck (slang),
bruise,
bash (informal),
sock (slang),
lash,
chin (slang),
pound,
smack,
thrash,
cane,
thump,
lick (informal),
buffet,
clout (informal),
flog,
whack (informal),
maul,
clobber (slang),
wallop (informal),
tonk (informal),
cudgel,
thwack (informal),
lambast(e),
lay one on (slang),
drub,
tan (informal),
lam (informal),
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
in the sense of beat
Definition
to throb rhythmically
I felt my heart beat faster.
Synonyms
throb,
pulse,
tick,
thump,
tremble,
pound,
quake,
quiver,
vibrate,
pulsate,
palpitate
in the sense of belabour
Definition
to attack verbally or physically
Men began to belabour his shoulders with sticks.
Synonyms
beat,
hit,
strike,
knock,
punch,
belt (informal),
whip,
deck (slang),
batter,
thrash,
pound,
flog,
clobber (slang),
tonk (informal),
cudgel,
thwack,
lambast(e),
lay one on (slang),
drub,
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
in the sense of clobber
Definition
to batter
She clobbered him with a vase.
Synonyms
batter,
beat,
assault,
smash,
bash (informal),
lash,
thrash,
pound,
beat up (informal),
wallop (informal),
pummel,
rough up (informal),
lambast(e),
belabour,
duff up (informal),
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
in the sense of clout
Definition
a fairly hard blow
I was half tempted to give them a clout myself.
Synonyms
thump,
blow,
crack (informal),
punch,
slap,
sock (slang),
cuff,
wallop (informal),
tonk (informal),
skelp (dialect)
in the sense of clout
Definition
to hit hard
The officer clouted him on the head.
Synonyms
hit,
strike,
punch,
deck (slang),
slap,
sock (slang),
chin (slang),
smack,
thump,
cuff,
clobber (slang),
wallop (informal),
box,
wham,
tonk (informal),
lay one on (slang),
skelp (dialect)
in the sense of crash
Definition
a sudden loud noise
Two people in the flat recalled hearing a loud crash about 1.30am.
Synonyms
smash,
clash,
boom,
smashing,
bang,
thunder,
thump,
racket,
din,
clatter,
clattering,
thud,
clang
in the sense of hit
Definition
to strike or touch (a person or thing) forcefully
She hit him hard across his left arm.
Synonyms
strike,
beat,
knock,
punch,
belt (informal),
deck (slang),
bang,
batter,
clip (informal),
slap,
bash (informal),
sock (slang),
chin (slang),
smack,
thump,
clout (informal),
cuff,
flog,
whack,
clobber (slang),
smite (archaic),
wallop (informal),
swat,
tonk (slang),
lay one on (slang),
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
in the sense of knock
He had taken a knock on the head in training.
Synonyms
blow,
hit,
punch,
crack (informal),
belt (informal),
clip,
slap,
bash,
smack,
thump,
clout (informal),
cuff,
box
in the sense of knock
Definition
to give a blow or push to
He was mucking around and he knocked her in the stomach.
Synonyms
hit,
strike,
punch,
belt (informal),
slap,
chin (slang),
smack,
thump,
clap,
cuff,
smite (archaic),
thwack,
lay one on (slang),
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of palpitate
Definition
to flutter or tremble
His whole body was palpitating with fear.
Synonyms
tremble,
pulse,
shiver,
throb,
quiver,
vibrate
in the sense of pound
Definition
to hit heavily and repeatedly
He pounded the table with his fist.
Synonyms
beat,
strike,
hammer (informal),
batter,
thrash,
thump,
pelt,
clobber (slang),
pummel,
belabour,
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal),
beat the living daylights out of
in the sense of pound
Definition
(of the heart) to throb heavily
I'm sweating and my heart is pounding.
Synonyms
pulsate,
beat,
pulse,
throb,
palpitate,
pitapat
in the sense of pulsate
Definition
to expand and contract rhythmically, like a heartbeat
The racing beat of her heart pulsated under my fingertips.
Synonyms
throb,
pound,
beat,
hammer,
pulse,
tick,
thump,
quiver,
vibrate,
thud,
palpitate
in the sense of pulse
Definition
to beat, throb, or vibrate
Her feet pulsed with pain.
Synonyms
beat,
tick,
throb,
vibrate,
pulsate
in the sense of punch
Definition
a blow with the fist
He's asking for a punch on the nose.
Synonyms
blow,
hit,
knock,
bash (informal),
plug (slang),
sock (slang),
thump,
clout (informal),
jab,
swipe (informal),
biff (rare),
bop (informal),
wallop (informal)
in the sense of punch
Definition
to strike at with a clenched fist
After punching him on the chin, she hit him over the head.
Synonyms
hit,
strike,
box,
smash,
belt (informal),
slam,
plug (slang),
bash (informal),
sock (slang, old-fashioned),
clout (informal),
slug (old-fashioned),
swipe (informal),
biff (rare),
bop (informal),
wallop (informal),
pummel
in the sense of rap
Definition
a sharp quick blow or the sound produced by it
There was a light rap on the door.
Synonyms
blow,
knock,
crack (informal),
tap,
clout (informal)
in the sense of rap
Definition
to knock loudly and sharply
A guard raps his stick on a metal hand rail.
Synonyms
hit,
strike,
knock,
crack (informal),
tap
in the sense of smack
Definition
a sharp loud slap, or the sound of such a slap
I end up shouting at him or giving him a smack.
Synonyms
slap,
blow,
whack,
clout (informal),
cuff,
crack (informal),
swipe (informal),
spank,
wallop (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of smack
Definition
to slap sharply
She smacked me on the side of the head.
Synonyms
slap,
hit,
strike,
pat,
tap,
sock (slang),
clap,
cuff,
swipe (informal),
box,
spank
in the sense of swipe
Definition
a hard blow
He gave Andrew a swipe on the ear.
Synonyms
blow,
slap,
smack,
clip (informal),
thump,
clout (informal),
cuff,
clump (slang),
wallop (informal)
in the sense of thrash
Definition
to beat (someone), esp. with a stick or whip
He was thrashed with a cane until his skin turned red.
Synonyms
beat,
wallop,
whip,
hide (informal),
belt (informal),
leather,
tan (slang),
cane,
lick (informal),
paste (slang),
birch,
flog,
scourge,
spank,
clobber (slang),
lambast(e),
flagellate,
horsewhip,
give someone a (good) hiding (informal),
drub,
take a stick to,
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
in the sense of thwack
Definition
a blow with something flat
a sharp thwack across the arm that left fingermarks for ages
Synonyms
smack,
blow,
whack,
bash (informal),
thump,
clout (informal),
swipe,
wallop (informal)
in the sense of thwack
Definition
to beat with something flat
He just thwacked me on the back of the head with a ruler.