dump
dump — verb
1. to put something down or let it fall in a careless, hasty, or untidy way, often
to put something down or let it fall in a careless, hasty, or untidy way, often without care for order or tidiness.
Pim dumped his school bag on the floor and raced to the kitchen.
dump + object + on/onto + surface
A lorry dumped a load of gravel onto the driveway this morning.
The old sofa was dumped behind the garage and left to rot.
passive: be dumped + location
Ziad dumped the contents of his backpack onto the bed, searching for his keys.
The children dumped their wet clothes into the laundry basket.
dump + object + into + container
- dump + object + on/onto the floor/table/bed/counter
- dump + object + in/into the sink/basket/bucket
- dump + load/contents/waste/stuff
Grammar Patterns
dump + object + prepositional phrase
Usage Note
Commonly used with prepositions of place such as on, onto, into, and behind to indicate where something is put down.
Common Mistakes
2. to throw away unwanted materials such as household rubbish or industrial waste i
to throw away unwanted materials such as household rubbish or industrial waste in a spot that is not meant for that purpose, often secretly and against regulations.
Nila discovered that someone had dumped old tyres in the forest near her house.
dump + object + in/at + illegal location
Companies that dump toxic waste into rivers can be taken to court.
The city installed cameras to catch people who dump rubbish illegally.
Christopher was fined five thousand dollars for dumping construction waste in a public park.
transitive: dump + object — used with financial penalty
It is against the law to dump chemical waste without a special permit.
- dump + rubbish/waste/rubbish/tyres/chemicals
- dump + toxic/nuclear/hazardous/industrial waste
- dump + in the river/forest/park/ocean
- discard
more formal; does not necessarily imply illegality
- dispose of
neutral term; proper or improper disposal
- jettison
formal; throwing items overboard or abandoning them
Grammar Patterns
dump + object + location
Usage Note
Subject is typically a person or company; the location is often specified with prepositions such as in, at, or into. Frequently used in legal and environmental contexts.
Common Mistakes
3. to sell a large quantity of goods in a foreign market at a price far below the u
to sell a large quantity of goods in a foreign market at a price far below the usual market rate, often to reduce surplus stock or to harm local producers.
The steel manufacturer was accused of dumping cheap metal in Asian markets.
dump + goods + in/on + market (trade context)
Trade agreements are designed to prevent countries from dumping subsidised grain abroad.
Local farmers struggled to compete after foreign companies dumped low-cost rice in the region.
The government imposed tariffs to stop the dumping of cheap electronics from overseas factories.
noun form: dumping of + goods
- dump + steel/grain/textiles/electronics/goods
- dump + on the market/abroad/in developing countries
- dumping + of subsidised products
- flood the market
idiom; to fill a market with products at low prices
- undersell
sell at a lower price than competitors, not necessarily abroad
- withhold
keep goods off the market instead of selling cheaply
- price fairly
set a reasonable market price
Grammar Patterns
dump + goods + on/in + market
Usage Note
Primarily used in economics and trade policy. Related noun dumping refers to this practice. Often carries negative connotations of unfair competition.
Common Mistakes
4. to copy or transfer data from a main computer system or memory to another storag
to copy or transfer data from a main computer system or memory to another storage device, such as a hard drive, USB stick, or printer, or to a file format for backup or analysis.
Wren dumped the database to an external hard drive for safekeeping.
dump + data + to + storage device
The technician dumped the error log to a text file before restarting the server.
You can dump the memory contents onto a USB stick with this command.
Tamar dumped all the images from the old phone onto a laptop before selling it.
dump + object + from + source + onto + destination
- dump + data/memory/contents/files/logs/images
- dump + to/onto + a hard drive/USB/server/disk/file
- dump + from + one device/computer/system
Grammar Patterns
dump + object + to/onto + device
Usage Note
In informal computing contexts, dump can mean simply copying data, but in professional usage it often implies a bulk or raw transfer without formatting.
Common Mistakes
5. to stop seeing a dating partner by telling them the relationship is over, typica
to stop seeing a dating partner by telling them the relationship is over, typically doing it without warning or gentle explanation.
Lotte dumped her boyfriend after he forgot her birthday twice in a row.
Pim still felt upset months after his girlfriend dumped him by text message.
passive: be dumped + by + person
Yuna finally dumped her partner after months of feeling taken for granted.
Getting dumped just before the holidays made the season even harder for Christopher.
gerund: getting dumped
- dump + boyfriend/girlfriend/partner
- get dumped + by text/by email/in person
- dump someone for someone else
- break up with
neutral; can be mutual or one-sided
- leave
broader; can apply to any relationship or situation
- finish with
British informal; similar register to dump
- date
begin or continue seeing someone romantically
- stay together
continue the relationship
Grammar Patterns
dump + person
Usage Note
Informal and somewhat harsh in tone. In more neutral or polite contexts, end the relationship or break up with is preferred.
Common Mistakes
6. during a game such as rugby or American football, to give the ball to a teammate
during a game such as rugby or American football, to give the ball to a teammate standing nearby, usually with a quick short throw while under pressure from the opposing side.
Zuri dumped the ball to Maja, who sprinted toward the goal line.
The quarterback dumped a short pass to the running back to avoid being tackled.
dump + a + (short) pass + to + player
Élise was nearly tackled, so she dumped the ball to Lucía in time.
Instead of shooting, the forward dumped the ball sideways to a teammate.
- dump + the ball/the pass
- dump + to + a teammate/player
- dump + sideways/backwards/short
Grammar Patterns
dump + object + to + person
Usage Note
Used in various team sports including rugby, American football, and Australian rules football. The common element is a short, quick pass under pressure rather than a long or strategic play.
Common Mistakes
7. in the sport of ice hockey, sending the puck with a hard hit deep into the secti
in the sport of ice hockey, sending the puck with a hard hit deep into the section of the rink that the opposing team controls, often as a planned move to change the team's attacking position.
Ryo dumped the puck into the far corner of the rink.
dump + the puck + into [location]
Kwame dumped the puck deep instead of trying to cross the blue line.
dump the puck deep [adverb after object]
With two seconds left, Marco dumped the puck toward the other end of the ice.
The coach showed Élise how to dump the puck past the defence.
- shoot
more general; does not specify the strategic deep-zone intent
Grammar Patterns
dump + the puck + adverb (deep / into the zone)
Usage Note
Frequently used with adverbs like 'deep' or prepositional phrases indicating direction ('into the zone', 'toward the corner'). This tactic is called a 'dump-and-chase' play.
8. in the game of golf, striking the ball so that it lands in a hazard on the cours
in the game of golf, striking the ball so that it lands in a hazard on the course, such as a pond, stream, or a sand-filled bunker near the green.
Darius dumped his tee shot into the pond on the left side of the fairway.
dump + tee shot + into [hazard]
Élise dumped the ball into a bunker right next to the green.
Samir watched his partner dump another ball into the water hazard near the 14th hole.
dump + into the water hazard
A strong gust of wind caught Christopher's shot and dumped it into the sand trap.
Grammar Patterns
dump + the ball + into [hazard]
Usage Note
Used informally by golfers to describe an unplanned or unlucky shot into a hazard. The subject can be the golfer (agentive) or the wind (non-agentive cause).
9. in the sport of volleyball, pushing or sending the ball across the net with both
in the sport of volleyball, pushing or sending the ball across the net with both hands on the second team contact, instead of passing it to a hitter for a spike.
Mauricio surprised the defence when he dumped the ball across the net.
dump + the ball + across the net
The setter, Kasia, decided to dump the ball into an open spot on the court.
Nora practised the dump every afternoon until she could place it perfectly.
noun use: 'the dump' (the move itself)
Christopher faked a set and dumped the ball softly across the net near the sideline.
Grammar Patterns
dump + the ball + across the net
Usage Note
The subject is usually the setter, who normally passes to a hitter. The dump is unexpected and aims to catch the defence off guard.
10. to strike a person or thing with great force, causing them to fall to the ground
to strike a person or thing with great force, causing them to fall to the ground or floor.
Mauricio dumped his opponent onto the wrestling mat with a powerful throw.
dump + person + onto [surface]
The storm dumped the old wooden fence flat across the garden path.
Dario dumped the stack of heavy boxes with a single hard shove.
The wrestler dumped Eitan to the ground in under five seconds.
dump + person + to the ground
- knock down
more common and neutral; 'dump' adds a sense of forceful, sometimes aggressive action
- floor
similar register but emphasises the result (being on the floor)
- tackle
sports-specific; implies bringing someone down by grabbing rather than striking
Grammar Patterns
dump + [person/object] + to/onto [surface]
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1 (DROP CARELESSLY): sense 1 implies careless placement without force, while sense 10 implies deliberate or forceful knocking down.
Common Mistakes
11. to move downward suddenly and steeply, especially in a way that feels fast or un
to move downward suddenly and steeply, especially in a way that feels fast or uncontrolled.
The helicopter dumped suddenly when the engine began to fail.
dump + adverb: sudden vertical drop
Stock prices dumped after the bank announced its unexpected losses.
dump: financial prices fall sharply
The old roller coaster dumped down the steep hill faster than Samir expected.
The road dumped steeply downhill for the next two miles toward the coast.
- rise
general opposite of falling
Grammar Patterns
dump + adverb (suddenly / steeply / abruptly)
Usage Note
Intransitive only. Subject is typically a vehicle, a price or market, or a terrain feature (road, slope). Not used with a direct object in this sense.
Common Mistakes
dump on
phrasal verbTo treat someone badly or unfairly, often by giving them too much work or criticism.
The manager always dumps on the new employees.
Stop dumping on me; I did my best.
To give someone a difficult task or problem to deal with.
My boss dropped the entire project in my lap yesterday.
Why did you dump that complaint in Sara's lap?
dump — noun
1. a place, usually in an outdoor area, where people or businesses take their unwan
a place, usually in an outdoor area, where people or businesses take their unwanted waste to be left or processed.
The city council closed the old dump after neighbours complained about the smell.
collocation: close a dump
Eve took her broken chairs and old boxes to the local dump on Saturday.
Trucks carry waste from the factory to a dump just outside the town.
The dump was full of broken appliances, plastic bottles, and rotting food.
- close a dump
- open a dump
- take something to the dump
- municipal dump
- local dump
- landfill
a more formal term for a large site where waste is buried
- rubbish tip
British English term for a place where rubbish is piled up
- waste site
a neutral, technical term; less specific than dump
2. a dirty, messy, or poorly cared-for place where people live or spend time — for
a dirty, messy, or poorly cared-for place where people live or spend time — for example, a dilapidated house, an ugly room, or a neglected neighbourhood.
Ishaan took one look at the dirty motel, called it a dump, and drove away.
informal: calling a place 'a dump' to criticise it
The old cinema had become a dump, with torn seats and rubbish on the floor.
After the restaurant closed, the building turned into a dump full of rats and broken glass.
Emily complained that her rental apartment was a dump and asked for her money back.
- be a dump
- look like a dump
- turn into a dump
- complete dump
- absolute dump
- palace
used humorously to contrast a dumpy place with a luxurious one
Usage Note
Always disapproving. Commonly used to criticise hotels, houses, apartments, or neighbourhoods. Do not confuse with the literal sense (RUBBISH SITE) — this sense describes any unpleasant location, not necessarily one that holds waste.
Common Mistakes
3. a site where military forces or aid groups keep reserve items such as food, weap
a site where military forces or aid groups keep reserve items such as food, weapons, or equipment stored and ready for use.
The army keeps extra food and medical supplies at a dump near the border.
military supply dump
During the war, the ammunition dump was guarded day and night by armed soldiers.
collocation: ammunition dump
Rescue workers set up a supply dump in the village for families who lost their homes.
The construction company stores its building materials in a dump behind the main office.
- ammunition dump
- supply dump
- fuel dump
- set up a dump
- guard a dump
Usage Note
Frequently used with a preceding noun specifying the type of goods (ammunition dump, supply dump, fuel dump). Subject is often a military or logistics organisation. Less common in everyday conversation.
4. an operation in which data is copied from a computer's main memory or storage to
an operation in which data is copied from a computer's main memory or storage to another device, such as an external drive or printer, often for backup, transfer, or troubleshooting.
The programmer ran a memory dump to find the bug that kept crashing the system.
memory dump — copying memory contents for debugging
Eitan made a dump of all his important files before installing the new operating system.
A screen dump can help the support team see exactly what error message appeared.
collocation: screen dump
The server creates a data dump each night so the company never loses customer records.
- memory dump
- data dump
- screen dump
- core dump
- run a dump
- create a dump
Usage Note
Often preceded by a noun describing the data type (memory dump, screen dump, data dump, core dump). Common in IT and software development contexts. The related verb sense (dump data) is more frequent in everyday computing.
Common Mistakes
5. in volleyball, an offensive play where the setter surprises the opposition by ge
in volleyball, an offensive play where the setter surprises the opposition by gently pushing the ball across to the other side during the team's second contact, rather than setting up a teammate for a spike.
Camila surprised the defenders with a dump that landed just behind the net.
volleyball: setter scores by pushing ball over on second touch
The setter's dump caught the opposing blockers off guard and won the point.
A successful dump in volleyball requires good timing and a very soft touch.
Ayana trained for weeks to perfect her dump, landing it just past the blockers.
- hit a dump
- attempt a dump
- setter's dump
- dump over the net
Usage Note
Only used in volleyball. This is a specialised term; most speakers outside the sport will not recognise it. The related verb sense (dump the ball) is slightly more common among players.
6. a crude word for the act of passing solid waste from the body.
a crude word for the act of passing solid waste from the body.
The toddler announced loudly that he needed to take a dump.
crude idiom: 'take a dump'
In polite company, you should avoid saying dump when you mean use the toilet.
Darius said the dog had done a dump right on the front doorstep.
Most people feel embarrassed if someone sees them taking a dump in a public toilet.
- take a dump
- do a dump
- have a dump
- bowel movement
the polite, clinical term
- poo
child-friendly; informal but not offensive
- shit
the strongest and most offensive synonym
Usage Note
Considered vulgar or coarse. Inappropriate for formal writing, professional settings, or polite conversation. Alternatives include 'bowel movement' (formal) or 'poo' (child-friendly). The phrase 'take a dump' is the most common fixed expression for this sense.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- dumpernounB2
- dumpingnounB2
- dumpedadjectiveB1
- dumpsternounB1
- dump trucknounB1
- dump-and-chaseadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/2
All five words mean 'to get rid of something', but they differ in register, legality, and intention. 'Dispose of' is the most neutral and formal — you can dispose of rubbish properly or improperly. 'Discard' is also neutral but suggests throwing something away because it is no longer useful. 'Dump' carries a strong negative tone: it implies getting rid of something carelessly, often illegally or without concern for where it ends up. 'Jettison' is formal and originally nautical (throwing cargo overboard); in business it means cutting projects or staff abruptly. 'Abandon' means leaving something or someone behind permanently, with a strong emotional or moral dimension. Example: 'The company disposed of its old furniture by donating it to charity.' / 'They dumped the broken chairs in the forest at night.' / 'The airline jettisoned fuel before an emergency landing.' / 'The driver abandoned the stolen car at the side of the road.'
Common collocations
Etymology
The verb 'dump' entered English in the 14th century, likely from Old Norse 'dumpa' (to thump or fall heavily) or from Middle English 'dumpen' (to throw down, fall with a thud). The sense of 'discarding waste' developed by the 1800s, and the noun meaning 'rubbish heap' followed soon after. The computing and sports meanings are 20th-century extensions.