trump

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtrəmp 

1

a

: a card of a suit any of whose cards will win over a card that is not of this suit

called also trump card

b

: the suit whose cards are trumps for a particular hand

—often used in plural

2

: a decisive overriding factor or final resource

called also trump card

3

: a dependable and exemplary person

trump

2 of 3

verb

trumped; trumping; trumps

transitive verb

1

: to get the better of : override

where ambition invariably trumps loyalty

—Michael Kramer

2

: to play a trump on (a card or trick) when another suit was led

intransitive verb

: to play a trump when another suit was led

trump

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

a

: trumpet

b

chiefly Scotland : jew's harp

2

: a sound of or as if of trumpeting

the trump of doom

Examples of trump in a Sentence

Verb

She trumped my ace to win the trick.

Their offer for the house was trumped by a higher bid.

The need for blood donors trumps all other concerns.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

National security trumps a little bit more inflation. —Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025

Republican senators Ted Cruz Tommy Tuberville trump trump trump news trump news us foreign students us foreign students us international students us international students Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. —Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 6 Apr. 2025

Since then, nationalism and isolationism have trumped international cooperation. —Chris Doyle, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2025

While these designer versions may boast sky-high price tags, they’re trumped in the comfort department by Skechers Go Walk shoes. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

alteration of triumph entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English trompe, from Anglo-French trumpe, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German trumba, trumpa trumpet

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1586, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing trump

• no-trump
• trump up

Rhymes for trump

• bump
• chump
• clump
• crump
• dump
• gump
• hump
• jump
• lump
• plump
• pump
• rump

Kids Definition

trump

1 of 2 noun

ˈtrəmp 

1

: a card of a suit any of whose cards will win over a card that is of a different suit

also : the suit whose cards are trumps for a particular hand

—often used in plural

2

: trump card

trump

2 of 2 verb

1

: to take with a trump

trump another player's card

2

: to play a trump

3

: to get the better of : outdo

trumped her competitors

Biographical Definition

Trump

biographical name

ˈtrəmp 

Donald J(ohn) 1946–     American businessman and politician; 45th and 47th president of the U.S. (2017–21; 2025- )