thudding

thudding — verb

1. to make a low, heavy sound when falling or hitting something, especially a solid

1.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

to make a low, heavy sound when falling or hitting something, especially a solid surface

Example

A heavy bag of rice went thudding onto the kitchen tiles after Nia dropped it.

went thudding + onto [surface]

Anjali lay in the dark, listening to her own heart thudding frantically against her ribs.

thudding against [body part]

Common collocations
  • heart thudding
  • boots thudding
  • rain thudding
  • thudding against
  • thudding down
  • thudding onto
Synonyms
  • thump

    similar dull, heavy sound but often slightly louder and more hollow

  • pound

    repeated forceful beating; common for heartbeats and drums

  • bang

    louder and sharper sound; less dull than 'thud'

Grammar Patterns

thud + against/onto/into/down

went/came + thudding + direction

Usage Note

Often paired with a directional adverb (down, onto) or preposition (against, on, into) to describe the path of a heavy object's movement. Also common in the pattern went/came + thudding to describe a falling object.

Common Mistakes

The kitten thudded softly onto the rug.
The box of tools thudded onto the concrete floor.
'thud' describes a heavy, dull sound; it does not fit a small, light object or a quiet action.

Word family

  • thud
    verbB1
  • thud
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four describe impact sounds, but they differ in weight and sharpness. 'Thud' and 'thump' are the dullest — a thud suggests a heavy, soft object (a sack of rice hitting a carpet), while a thump is slightly more resonant (a fist hitting a table). 'Pound' implies repeated, forceful beating (rain pounding on a roof, or a heart pounding with fear). 'Bang' is sharper and louder (a door banging shut or a firework). 'Clunk' describes a metallic, hollow sound (a pipe hitting concrete). Use 'thudding' when the emphasis is on the heavy, muffled quality of the impact rather than its volume or pitch.

thump ↗pound ↗bang ↗clunk

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • went thudding
  • came thudding
  • sound of ... thudding

Prepositions

Etymology

English

'Thud' is an onomatopoeic word — the sound of the word itself echoes the dull, heavy noise it describes. It first appeared in English during the 1500s and was likely created by speakers to imitate the sound of a heavy object striking a surface. The -ing form extends this to describe the action in progress.