bum
1 of 6noun (1)
ˈbəm 
: buttocks
fell down on his bum
bum
2 of 6adjective
1
a
: of poor quality or nature
bum advice
b
: not valid or deserved
writing a bum check
c
: not pleasant or enjoyable
a bum trip
2
: affected or disabled by damage or injury
has a bum knee
bum
3 of 6verb (1)
bummed; bumming
intransitive verb
1
: loaf
bummed around the house all day
2
: to spend time unemployed and often wandering —often used with around
spent a couple of months bumming around Mexico
transitive verb
: to obtain by asking or begging : cadge
bum a cigarette
bum
4 of 6noun (2)
1
a
: one who sponges (see sponge entry 2 sense 2) off others and avoids work
He's a lazy bum.
b
: one who performs a function poorly
called the umpire a bum
c
: one whose time is devoted to a recreational activity
a beach bum
ski bums
2
: vagrant, tramp
bums sleeping on park benches
bum
5 of 6noun (3)
: a drinking spree : bender
a 2-day bum
bum
6 of 6verb (2)
bummed; bumming; bums
transitive verb
US, informal
: disappoint, depress —usually used with out
The news really bummed me out.
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- backside
- behind
- booty [slang]
- bootie
- bottom
- breech
- buns
- butt
- buttocks
- caboose
- can
- cheeks
- derriere
- derrière
- duff
- fanny
- fundament
- hams
- haunches
- heinie [slang]
- hunkers
- keister [slang]
- keester
- nates
- posterior
- rear
- rear end
- rump
- seat
- tail
- tail end
- tush [slang]
Adjective
- bad
- bargain-basement
- cheap
- cheapjack
- cheesy
- coarse
- common
- crappy [slang]
- cut-rate
- el cheapo
- execrable
- gimcrack
- inferior
- junky
- lousy
- low-grade
- low-rent
- mediocre
- miserable
- poor
- rotten
- rubbishy
- schlock
- schlocky
- shlock
- shlocky
- second-rate
- shoddy
- sleazy
- terrible
- trashy
- trumpery
- wretched
Verb (1)
- chill
- dally
- dawdle
- dillydally
- drone
- footle
- goof (off)
- hack (around)
- hang (around or out)
- hang about [British]
- idle
- kick around
- kick back
- laze
- lazy
- loaf
- loll
- lounge
- veg out
Noun (2)
- derelict
- do-nothing
- good-for-nothing
- ne'er-do-well
- no-account
- no-good
- no-goodnik
- slacker
- vagrant
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective that was bum advice that you got from that website
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English bom
Adjective
perhaps from bum entry 4
Verb (1)
probably back-formation from bummer entry 1
Noun (2)
probably short for bummer entry 1
Noun (3)
perhaps from bum entry 3
Verb (2)
probably back-formation from bummer entry 2
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb (1)
1863, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun (3)
1863, in the meaning defined above
Verb (2)
1970, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing bum
Kids Definition
bum 1 of 2
noun
ˈbəm
1
: a person who avoids work
2
: tramp entry 2 sense 1, hobo
bum
2 of 2verb
bummed; bumming
: to obtain by asking or begging
Can I bum a dollar from you?
bumming
verb
as in lounging
to spend time doing nothing spent most of the summer just bumming around the house Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- lounging
- loafing
- lazing
- strolling
- playing
- chilling
- idling
- relaxing
- dawdling
- resting
- messing
- poking
- lazying
- lolling
- dillydallying
- mucking
- droning
- lingering
- dallying
- kicking back
- footling
- killing time
- monkeying
- hanging about
- loitering
- fooling
- piddling
- sauntering
- lagging
- twiddling one's thumbs
- kicking around
- ambling
- dozing
- goofing (off)
- hibernating
- vegging out
- moseying
- hacking (around)
- hanging (around or out)
- swanning
- trifling
- estivating
- goldbricking
- tarrying
- malingering
- fiddling (around)
- truanting
- aestivating
- furloughing
- pottering (around)
- puttering (around)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hustling
- working
- laboring
- humping
- sweating
- toiling
- grubbing
- grinding
- plugging
- plowing
- plodding
- slaving
- pegging
- drudging
- applying
- moiling
- buckling (down)
- travailing
- exerting
- putting out