plump

1 of 6

adjective

ˈpləmp 

1

: having a full rounded usually pleasing form

a plump woman

2

: ample, abundant

plumpish

ˈpləm-pish 

adjective

plump

2 of 6

verb (1)

plumped; plumping; plumps

transitive verb

: to make plump

intransitive verb

: to become plump

plump

3 of 6

verb (2)

plumped; plumping; plumps

intransitive verb

1

: to drop, sink, or come in contact suddenly or heavily

plumped down in the chair

2

: to favor or decide in favor of someone or something strongly or emphatically

—used with for

transitive verb

1

: to drop, cast, or place suddenly or heavily

2

: to give support and favorable publicity to

plump

4 of 6

noun (1)

: a sudden plunge, fall, or blow

also : the sound made by a plump

plump

5 of 6

adverb

1

: with a sudden or heavy drop

2

a

: straight down

b

: straight ahead

3

: without qualification : directly

plump out of luck

plump

6 of 6

noun (2)

chiefly dialectal

: group, flock

a plump of ducks rose at the same time

—H. D. Thoreau

Synonyms

Adjective

• blubbery
• chubby
• corpulent
• fat
• fleshy
• full
• gross
• lardy
• obese
• overweight
• podgy [chiefly British]
• portly
• pudgy
• replete
• roly-poly
• rotund
• round
• tubby

Verb (2)

• flop
• flump
• plank
• plop
• plunk
• plonk

Noun (1)

• bang
• bash
• bat
• beat
• belt
• biff
• blow
• bop
• box
• buffet
• bust
• chop
• clap
• clip
• clout
• crack
• cuff
• dab
• douse [British]
• fillip
• hack
• haymaker
• hit
• hook
• knock
• larrup [dialect]
• lash
• lick
• pelt
• pick
• poke
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slug
• smack
• smash
• sock
• spank
• stinger
• stripe
• stroke
• swat
• swipe
• switch
• thud
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• welt
• whack
• wham
• whop
• whap

Adverb

• dead
• direct
• directly
• due
• plumb
• right
• straight
• straightway

Examples of plump in a Sentence

Adjective

His aunt pinched his plump cheeks.

she's been plump all her life, and her sister has always been skinny

Verb (2)

plumped herself down on the couch and turned on the TV

Noun (1)

angrily gave a plump of his fist against the door

Adverb

there was a squirrel on the sidewalk plump in front of us

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This drugstore darling is a versatile medicine cabinet staple for its mix of petroleum jelly, mineral oil, glycerin, and lanolin that acts as an all-in-one humectant, emollient, and occlusive to ensure your skin stays soft and plump. —Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 6 Dec. 2024

Layer on generously before bedtime to find flaky, parched lips replaced by smooth, soft, plump pout come morning. —Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 5 Dec. 2024

Verb

What’s more, the patches can plump and firm the skin on the hands. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2024

Combined, this recipe moisturizes, hydrates multiple layers of the skin barrier, and reduces hyperpigmentation, all while plumping and smoothing the skin on your lips. —Madison Yauger, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024

Noun

The five-in-one face formula (right) hydrates, smoothes, firms, plumps, and brightens while the eye cream brightens dark circles, reduces puffiness, refreshes tired eyes, smooths appearance of fine lines, and hydrates to visibly firm skin. —Andrea Lavinthal, People.com, 5 Dec. 2024

Each day features one of the brand’s best-selling lip plumps that help soothe dry lips. —Taylor Lane, StyleCaster, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb (1)

Middle English, dull, blunt, from Middle Dutch plomp

Verb (2)

Middle English

Noun (2)

Middle English plumpe

First Known Use

Adjective

1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1533, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Verb (2)

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

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing plump

• plump for

Kids Definition

plump

1 of 5 verb

ˈpləmp 

1

: to drop, sink, or come in contact suddenly or heavily

plumped down in the chair

2

: to support someone or something strongly

—used with for

plump for a candidate

plump

2 of 5 noun

: a sudden plunge, fall, or blow

plump

3 of 5 adverb

1

: with a sudden or heavy drop

2

: directly entry 1 sense 1

ran plump into the wall

plump

4 of 5 verb

: to make or become plump

plump up a pillow

plump

5 of 5 adjective

: having a full rounded form : chubby

plumpness noun

Etymology

Verb

Middle English plumpen "to drop or sink heavily"

Verb

plump (adjective) "rounded, chubby," from Middle English plump "dull, blunt"