bump

bump — verb

1. to strike someone or something by accident with a sudden movement.

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to strike someone or something by accident with a sudden movement.

Example

Bao bumped into the kitchen table while carrying two soup bowls.

bump into + thing

The shopping cart bumped the glass door and made a loud bang.

bump + object

Common collocations
  • bump into a table
  • bump against a wall
  • bump the door
  • accidentally bump someone
Synonyms
  • hit

    broader and can describe deliberate as well as accidental contact

  • knock

    often suggests a firmer blow or moving something slightly

  • brush

    lighter and gentler than 'bump'

Grammar Patterns

bump into + person/thing

bump against + surface

bump + object

Usage Note

Often describes an accidental hit with another person or thing. Distinguish from sense 2: here the object is the person or thing you contact, not the body part that gets hurt.

Common Mistakes

I bumped with the wall in the dark.
I bumped into the wall in the dark.
this sense commonly uses 'into' for the thing you hit.

2. to knock a body part on something hard so that it becomes painful.

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to knock a body part on something hard so that it becomes painful.

Example

Noa bumped her knee on the desk during the math test.

bump + body part + on

While climbing out, Tariq bumped his head on the bus roof.

Common collocations
  • bump your head
  • bump your knee
  • bump an elbow
  • bump your ankle on a step
Synonyms
  • bang

    more forceful and often more sudden

  • knock

    close in meaning, but less strongly tied to resulting pain

  • bruise

    focuses on the injury result, not the striking action itself

Grammar Patterns

bump + body part + on + thing

bump + body part + against + thing

Usage Note

The direct object is usually the injured body part: head, knee, elbow, or ankle. Distinguish from sense 1, which focuses on the person or thing struck rather than the pain in your body.

Common Mistakes

I bumped on the table and my knee hurt.
I bumped my knee on the table.
this sense normally names the body part as the object.

3. to move with repeated jolts over rough ground, especially in a vehicle.

3.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to move with repeated jolts over rough ground, especially in a vehicle.

Example

The old bus bumped along the mountain road after heavy rain.

bump along + road

Our jeep bumped over stones until the village school appeared.

bump over + rough ground

Common collocations
  • bump along the road
  • bump over stones
  • bump across a field
  • bump slowly
Synonyms
  • jolt

    stresses the sharp up-and-down movement

  • rattle

    suggests shaking with noise as well as movement

  • bounce

    can sound lighter or springier than 'bump'

Antonyms
  • glide

    to move smoothly without jolts

Grammar Patterns

vehicle bump along

bump over + rough ground

bump across + path

Usage Note

Subject is usually a vehicle or something carrying people or goods. Common with route words such as 'road', 'track', 'path', and 'stones'.

Common Mistakes

The driver bumped the road for two hours.
The bus bumped along the road for two hours.
this sense is normally intransitive and describes the movement itself.

4. to force someone or something out of a place, rank, or turn so another person or

4.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to force someone or something out of a place, rank, or turn so another person or thing can take it.

Example

A later train bumped our meeting from noon to three.

bump + event + from ... to ...

The new captain bumped Jonas from the first team.

bump + person + from + group

Common collocations
  • bump from the team
  • bump off the list
  • bump out of a seat
  • bump a meeting
Synonyms
  • displace

    formal and often used for replacing someone or something

  • oust

    stronger and often used for power or office

  • move

    broader and more neutral than 'bump'

Antonyms
  • keep

    to leave someone or something in the same place

Grammar Patterns

bump + person + from + role/group

bump + thing + off/out of + place

Usage Note

Often takes the person or thing that loses its place as the object. Distinguish from sense 5, which is the airline-specific use for passengers and seats.

Common Mistakes

The new player bumped Jonas to the first team.
The new player bumped Jonas from the first team.
this sense usually marks the place lost with 'from'.

5. to place an airline passenger on another flight or in another seat instead of th

5.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to place an airline passenger on another flight or in another seat instead of the one originally booked.

Example

The airline bumped Mei to a later flight after the storm.

bump + passenger + to + flight

At check-in, staff bumped two students into business class.

bump + passenger + into + class

Common collocations
  • bump a passenger
  • bump to a later flight
  • bump into business class
  • be bumped from a seat
Synonyms
  • rebook

    focuses on arranging a new flight, not on the disruption

  • transfer

    more neutral and wider in use

  • upgrade

    only fits cases where the new seat is better

Antonyms
  • confirm

    to keep the passenger on the arranged flight or seat

Grammar Patterns

bump + passenger + to + flight

be bumped from + flight

bump + passenger + into + seat class

Usage Note

Frequently passive in travel contexts. The subject is usually an airline, airport staff, or overbooking situation, and the change is normally to a different flight or seat class.

Common Mistakes

The airline bumped us for a later flight.
The airline bumped us to a later flight.
this sense usually marks the new arrangement with 'to' or 'into'.

6. to reply to an old online post so it rises nearer the top and draws fresh attent

6.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to reply to an old online post so it rises nearer the top and draws fresh attention.

Example

Lior bumped the old forum post before the sale began.

bump + post

After six quiet months, someone bumped the thread with one photo.

Common collocations
  • bump a thread
  • bump a post
  • bump an ad
  • bump to the top
Synonyms
  • push up

    a plain paraphrase, but less fixed as forum vocabulary

  • repost

    can mean posting the same content again, not simply replying to move it up

Grammar Patterns

bump + thread/post

bump + thread + to the top

Usage Note

Common in forums, message boards, and classified posts. Distinguish from sense 7: here the thing that rises is the online post's position, not a price or number.

Common Mistakes

She bumped on the old thread yesterday.
She bumped the old thread yesterday.
this internet sense takes the post or thread directly as its object.

7. to move an amount or level a little higher.

7.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to move an amount or level a little higher.

Example

The cafe bumped lunch prices by ten dollars this spring.

bump + price + by + amount

Cold weather bumped electricity use across the town last week.

Common collocations
  • bump prices
  • bump the rate
  • bump pay
  • bump by ten dollars
Synonyms
  • raise

    the broad everyday word

  • increase

    more neutral and common in formal writing

  • lift

    often used for prices, limits, or restrictions

Antonyms
  • lower

    to move the amount downward

  • cut

    often used for prices, pay, or spending

Grammar Patterns

bump + price/pay/rate

bump + amount + by + number

Usage Note

Object is usually a number, price, pay level, score, or other measurable amount. It often suggests a modest increase rather than a large jump.

Common Mistakes

The store bumped up with five dollars.
The store bumped the price by five dollars.
this sense usually takes the amount changed as the object.
Phrasal verbs

bump into

phrasal verb

To meet someone unexpectedly.

I bumped into my old teacher at the supermarket.

Have you ever bumped into a celebrity in your city?

bump off

phrasal verb

To murder someone.

The gang planned to bump off the rival leader.

In the movie, the villain tries to bump off the hero.

bump up

phrasal verb

To increase something, such as a price or amount.

The airline bumped up the ticket prices for holidays.

My boss decided to bump up my salary after the review.

bump up against

phrasal verb

To encounter a problem or difficulty.

We bumped up against a lack of funding for the project.

The team bumped up against strict regulations during testing.

bump — noun

Word family

  • bumpy
    adjectiveB2
  • bumpily
    adverbC2
  • bumpiness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

For physical contact, 'bump' usually suggests a short accidental hit, often with limited damage. 'Hit' is the broad everyday word and can be accidental or deliberate, so it is less specific. 'Knock' is close, but it often suggests a firmer blow or the result of moving something slightly out of place. 'Brush' is lighter: you only touch something briefly, often with very little force. 'Crash' is far stronger and usually implies serious impact, noise, or damage. Compare: 'Bao bumped the table while turning around' sounds minor and accidental. 'The truck crashed into the gate' sounds violent, while 'Leila brushed my arm in the crowd' suggests only slight contact.

hit ↗knock ↗brush ↗crash ↗

Etymology

Imitative sound formationEnglish

Bump appears to have grown in English as a sound-imitating word for a dull striking noise. From that basic idea of hitting something, English later developed the noun for a raised lump, the verb for a jolting ride, and newer senses such as moving an online post upward or making a number slightly higher.